Connecticut Criminal Records

This guide explains how to find Connecticut criminal records, arrest records, court records, inmate information, and the public sex offender registry, and how Connecticut's background-check and record-clearing laws work. It was last reviewed in June 2026 using official Connecticut sources, and it points you to the state and county agencies that hold each type of record. You can also start a name search using the tool on this page.

Are criminal records public in Connecticut?

Most criminal records in Connecticut are public under the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act (C.G.S. § 1-200 et seq.), which gives the public the right to inspect and copy records held by government agencies, including law enforcement and the courts. Court conviction and pending-case records are accessible through the Connecticut Judicial Branch online case lookup. The statewide criminal history summary held by the State Police Bureau of Identification is more restricted: third-party access typically requires the subject's written authorization, a fingerprint submission, or a specific legal purpose.

How do I look up a criminal record in Connecticut?

There are three main ways to look up criminal record information in Connecticut:

• Connecticut Judicial Branch case lookup. The free Criminal/Motor Vehicle Case Look-up at jud.ct.gov lets you search statewide for convictions and pending Superior Court cases by defendant name or docket number. Conviction records display for up to 10 years from sentencing. Juvenile and youthful-offender cases are excluded.
• State Police Bureau of Identification. For a full statewide criminal history (a rap sheet), requests must be mailed to the DESPP State Police Bureau of Identification, 1111 Country Club Road, Middletown, CT 06457. The fee is $75 for a name-based check; fingerprint-based checks require an appointment and a $15 fingerprinting fee. Requests must be sent by U.S. mail using Form DPS-0846-C.
• A name-search tool like the one on this page, which compiles public-record data from multiple sources. These tools are for personal research only and are not a substitute for an official fingerprint-based record check.

Where can I look up arrest records in Connecticut?

Arrest records are kept by the arresting agency - a city police department, a town police department, or the Connecticut State Police. Many departments provide incident reports on request. Arrest information also appears on the Connecticut Judicial Branch case lookup for any case that resulted in charges being filed. An arrest is not a conviction: being arrested does not mean a person was found guilty, and under Connecticut law an erased arrest record may not be reported by a background-check company.

How do I find court records in Connecticut?

The Connecticut Judicial Branch operates a single statewide online case index. You can search criminal and motor vehicle cases for free at the Criminal/Motor Vehicle Case Look-up by defendant name or docket number. The system covers convictions (up to 10 years from sentencing), pending cases, and daily dockets. To obtain copies of case files, contact the Judicial Branch Centralized Services Unit by email at SuperiorCourtRecordsCenter@jud.ct.gov or by phone at (860) 263-2750; you will need the case name and docket number. Files are usually available within one to two business days, with email delivery at no charge.

How do I check for active warrants in Connecticut?

Connecticut offers two official online tools for warrant information:

• The Judicial Branch warrant search at jud2.ct.gov/VOP/ lets you search outstanding arrest warrants for violation of probation by name, town, or court location.
• The Office of Policy and Management warrant data page publishes monthly reports showing outstanding failure-to-appear and probation-violation warrant counts by municipality, with records going back to 2006.

For a specific inquiry, calling the local police department or the Superior Court clerk in the relevant judicial district is the most direct route.

Do arrests show up on background checks in Connecticut?

For employment, housing, and credit screening governed by the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), arrests that did not result in a conviction can generally be reported for up to seven years from the date of the arrest. Under Connecticut's own law, however, an arrest or charge that has been erased - through dismissal, acquittal, pardon, or automatic Clean Slate erasure - may not be reported at all, and individuals may legally state it never occurred. Connecticut also has a ban-the-box law: employers may not ask about criminal history on an initial job application, though they may ask during interviews or after a conditional offer is made.

How far back does a background check go in Connecticut?

Connecticut follows the federal FCRA seven-year rule for consumer background reports: a consumer reporting agency (a background-check company) generally may not report criminal conviction records that are more than seven years old, unless the position pays $75,000 or more per year, in which case the FCRA has no time limit. Connecticut's own Clean Slate law goes further by automatically erasing the underlying records after 7 years (eligible misdemeanors) or 10 years (eligible Class D, E, and unclassified felonies), meaning erased records cannot be reported regardless of salary.

How do I find someone in jail or prison in Connecticut?

Connecticut operates a unified corrections system - there is no separate county jail network. The Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC) holds both pre-trial detainees and sentenced prisoners in state facilities. You can search for current and recently released inmates using the DOC Inmate Information Search at portal.ct.gov/doc, searchable by name or DOC number. Results typically show custody status, housing location, charges, and projected release date. For federal cases, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator instead.

How do I find out if someone is on probation or parole in Connecticut?

Parole and special parole are supervised by the Board of Pardons and Paroles (BOPP), which operates under the Department of Correction. A person's parole status may appear in the DOC inmate search if they are still under DOC supervision. Probation is administered by the Judicial Branch Court Support Services Division, and the sentencing court's records are the authoritative source for probation terms and conditions. The BOPP website at portal.ct.gov/bopp provides general information about how parole works in Connecticut.

What are the felony classes and sentences in Connecticut?

Connecticut divides felonies into five classes under C.G.S. § 53a-25. A felony is any crime punishable by more than one year in a state correctional institution. The five classes carry these maximum sentences:

• Class A felony: 10-25 years (murder and certain aggravated assaults can reach life in prison); fine up to $20,000.
• Class B felony: 1-20 years (first-degree manslaughter with a firearm carries 5-40 years); fine up to $15,000.
• Class C felony: 1-10 years; fine up to $10,000.
• Class D felony: Up to 5 years; fine up to $5,000.
• Class E felony: Up to 3 years; fine up to $3,500.

Common examples of felonies include murder (Class A), first-degree robbery (Class B), second-degree assault (Class C), and third-degree burglary (Class D).

What are the misdemeanor classes and sentences in Connecticut?

Misdemeanors are crimes punishable by up to one year in a local correctional facility, classified under C.G.S. § 53a-26:

• Class A misdemeanor: Up to 1 year in jail; fine up to $2,000. Examples include third-degree assault and third-degree larceny.
• Class B misdemeanor: Up to 6 months; fine up to $1,000.
• Class C misdemeanor: Up to 3 months; fine up to $500.
• Class D misdemeanor: Up to 30 days; fine up to $250.

Are traffic violations crimes in Connecticut?

Routine traffic infractions - speeding tickets, running a red light - are civil violations that do not create a criminal record and do not appear on criminal background checks. More serious driving offenses are a different matter. Connecticut's Operating Under the Influence (OUI) law, C.G.S. § 14-227a, makes a first OUI offense a Class A misdemeanor (up to 6 months jail, $500 - $1,000 fine, 45-day license suspension). A second OUI within 10 years is a felony, and a third or subsequent OUI is also a felony with a mandatory minimum of one year in prison. Reckless driving is a misdemeanor that also creates a criminal record.

Is the Connecticut sex offender registry public?

Yes. Connecticut maintains a public sex offender registry administered by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP). The registry is searchable online at the DESPP Sex Offender Registry page at portal.ct.gov, which links to the state's sex offender search tool. The registry shows a registrant's last known address, physical description, conviction details, and offense date. Members of the public may also access registry information in person at any local police department or State Police barracks.

Can someone be removed from the Connecticut sex offender registry?

Connecticut's sex offender registry does not currently have a broad petition process allowing most registrants to seek removal after a set period. Registration duration is largely determined by the conviction: many registrants must register for 10 years, while those convicted of sexually violent offenses must register for life. Some individuals grandfathered onto the registry under earlier statutes may have limited avenues to petition for removal from the public registry under C.G.S. § 54-255c. Because eligibility is highly fact-specific, anyone seeking removal or modification should consult an attorney familiar with Connecticut sex offender registration law.

How do I clear or erase my criminal record in Connecticut?

Connecticut uses the term erasure rather than expungement. There are two main paths:

• Automatic Clean Slate erasure. Under Public Act 21-42 (C.G.S. § 54-142r), Connecticut automatically erases eligible convictions after a waiting period with no petition required. Eligible misdemeanors are erased 7 years after the person's most recent conviction; eligible Class D, E, and unclassified felonies (with a maximum sentence under 5 years) and DUI convictions are erased after 10 years. The offense must have been committed on or after January 1, 2000. Family violence crimes, sex offenses, and serious felonies are excluded. About 50,000 records were erased in 2025 after implementation delays, with more than 100,000 additional erasures expected. The official resource is the Connecticut Clean Slate portal at portal.ct.gov/cleanslate.
• Pardon from the Board of Pardons and Paroles. For convictions that do not qualify for automatic Clean Slate erasure - including serious felonies and offenses before January 1, 2000 - a person may apply to the Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles for an absolute pardon, which also results in erasure of the record. Pardons are granted at the BOPP's discretion after an application and review process.

Once a record is erased under either path, individuals may legally state the arrest or conviction did not occur, and employers may not require disclosure of erased records.

Do I need a lawyer to clear my record in Connecticut?

For Clean Slate automatic erasures, no action is required - eligible records are erased without a petition. For pardon applications, or for petitions involving pre-2000 offenses that require a court filing, an attorney can be a significant help because the eligibility rules are detailed and a procedural mistake can delay or defeat the application. Free or low-cost help is available through Connecticut legal aid organizations. The BOPP provides a self-service online application at portal.ct.gov/bopp for those who choose to apply without an attorney.

How long does a felony stay on your record in Connecticut?

A Connecticut felony conviction stays on your record permanently unless you obtain relief. For Class D or E felonies committed on or after January 1, 2000, the Clean Slate law automatically erases the record 10 years after the last conviction, provided you meet the eligibility criteria. Class A, B, and C felonies are not eligible for automatic Clean Slate erasure; the only path to erasure for those convictions is a pardon from the Board of Pardons and Paroles. The Judicial Branch online case lookup removes conviction entries approximately 10 years after sentencing, but the underlying record held by the State Police Bureau of Identification persists until formally erased.

Are juvenile criminal records sealed in Connecticut?

Juvenile records in Connecticut are generally confidential by statute and are not available to the public or to ordinary background checks. Most juvenile delinquency records are automatically sealed when the person turns 18 or after a specified period without further adjudications. A person who has a juvenile record that has not been automatically sealed may petition the court to have it sealed. Even sealed juvenile records may still be accessible to law enforcement, courts, and certain licensing agencies. Youthful offender case records are also excluded from the Judicial Branch public online case lookup.

Fairfield County criminal records

Fairfield County is Connecticut's most populous county, home to nearly 960,000 residents and major cities including Bridgeport, Stamford, and Norwalk. The county seat is Bridgeport, where the Fairfield Judicial District Courthouse is located at 1061 Main Street, (203) 579-6527. Because Connecticut operates a statewide case lookup rather than separate county systems, Fairfield County criminal and motor vehicle cases are fully searchable - along with every other judicial district - through the Connecticut Judicial Branch Criminal/Motor Vehicle Case Look-up. You can search by defendant name or docket number. For copies of case files, contact the Centralized Services Unit at SuperiorCourtRecordsCenter@jud.ct.gov.

Official Connecticut criminal record sources

• DESPP State Police Bureau of Identification - request a statewide criminal history by mail ($75 fee, Form DPS-0846-C).
• Connecticut Judicial Branch: Criminal/Motor Vehicle Case Look-up - free statewide search of convictions and pending Superior Court cases.
• Connecticut DOC Inmate Information Search - find current and recently released state inmates by name or DOC number.
• DESPP Sex Offender Registry - public sex offender search by name or address.
• Connecticut Clean Slate portal - eligibility information and status updates for automatic record erasure.
• Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles - pardon applications and information for convictions not covered by Clean Slate.
• OPM Arrest Warrant Data - monthly outstanding warrant reports by municipality.
• Judicial Branch Warrant Search - search outstanding violation-of-probation arrest warrants by name.

Disclosure: criminal.com may earn a commission when you use the people-search tool on this page, which is powered by a third-party background-check service. Results from such tools are for your personal knowledge only and may not be used to make decisions about employment, housing, credit, tenant screening, or any other purpose covered by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). An arrest record is not proof of guilt. This page is general information about Connecticut public records, not legal advice; for advice about your situation, consult an attorney. Information was last reviewed in June 2026 and laws may change.