Connecticut officials have encountered significant setbacks in their efforts to fully implement the 2021 “Clean Slate Law,” which aims to erase misdemeanors and certain low-level felonies from the records of more than 80,000 individuals. Despite initial promises, only approximately 13,600 residents have had their criminal records cleared so far.
Background
The “Clean Slate Law” was designed to address the negative impact of past criminal convictions on a majority of Black and Latino residents. These communities have disproportionately suffered from harsher punishments due to laws enacted during the so-called “war on drugs.” The initiative was expected to automatically expunge more than 178,000 offenses committed by over 80,000 people.
Delays and Challenges
Connecticut officials had celebrated a long-awaited conclusion to the delays in December, but recent developments indicate otherwise. The Lamont administration revealed that aging data systems and inaccuracies were responsible for the most recent delay. Only about 33,000 charges have been cleared, with approximately 30,000 being misdemeanors and 3,000 low-level felonies.
Advocates’ Frustration
Clean slate advocates expressed frustration over the lack of transparency. Rodney Moore, part of the Congregations Organized for a New Connecticut’s criminal legal reform team (CONECT), highlighted the disproportionate impact on Black and brown communities. He emphasized that officials were aware of the law’s potential benefits during the celebratory press conference but now find themselves facing another setback.
Moving Forward
The state now expects that another 65,000 people will have their convictions erased in the coming weeks, with a goal of erasing all eligible records dating back to the year 2000 within the next 12 months. The situation has caused confusion among clean slate advocates, given that much of the information about the delay did not come until they actively sought out answers from officials about the status of implementation — and that the information came just months after the celebratory press conference. “They knew at the press conference that clean slate would definitely benefit the majority of Black and brown people who experience incarceration because those are harsher punishments that we get as Black and brown people,” said Rodney Moore. “That was the excuse the first time — that there was a data issue, and we’re having issues with IT. And we’ve got to get these things right. And it was going to be taken care of. But now we’re back at it again.”
H/T: https://www.courant.com/
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