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New Haven Expungement Attorneys

Helping People in and around New Haven Clear their Criminal Records

We’ve all made mistakes in our lives. If you’ve been lucky, those mistakes haven’t resulted in the creation of a criminal record that can wreak havoc on your personal and professional life. On the other hand, if you haven’t been so lucky, you know firsthand how serious it is to have a criminal record and the many ways it can affect your life.

Fortunately for people who have a criminal record, Connecticut law recognizes the fact that people who've been rehabilitated or had lapses in judgment shouldn't necessarily be saddled with the burden of a criminal record for the rest of their lives. To this end, individuals who've been convicted of a crime in Connecticut may be able to erase their criminal record by obtaining a pardon, which is often referred to as an “expungement.”

There are three kinds of expungements available in Connecticut:

• An Absolute Pardon – Generally speaking, this is what people are referring to when they talk about an expungement. If you are granted an absolute pardon, it erases your entire criminal history, and you are legally allowed to state that you have not been convicted of a crime.
• A Conditional Pardon – A conditional pardon is similar to an absolute pardon, but the Pardons Board places conditions upon the individual receiving the pardon. If those conditions are violated, the pardon can be revoked.
• A Certificate of Employability – A Certificate of Employability does not expunge your record, but it does make it illegal for employers to deny you employment based solely upon your criminal history and indicates that you are suitable to hold certain licenses.

Furthermore, in 2015, Connecticut law made it possible for certain individuals to apply for and receive an expedited pardon, which is handled through a written application solely and does not require a court hearing. This may be an option for people with convictions for nonviolent crimes that have no victim who needs to be notified of the pardon.

The Benefits of Expungement

There are many ways that expunging your criminal record can benefit your life. Some of the most important include the following:

• Expungement Can Make It Easier to Obtain Employment – Many employers in Connecticut have made a criminal background check a standard part of their application procedure, and having a criminal record isn't going to work in your favor when you apply for a job.
• Expungement Can Make It Easier to Rent an Apartment – Similarly, landlords often inquire about whether their prospective tenants have ever been convicted of a crime, and they may be hesitant to rent to someone who has a criminal record.
• Expungement Can Bring You Peace of Mind – In many cases, your criminal record is available to  the public – meaning that anyone who is curious enough could potentially uncover details about your past. When your record is expunged, it actually results in the erasure of your criminal record.

How Do I Obtain an Expungement?

In order to obtain an expungement, you must apply to Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles . It has significant discretion in deciding whether to grant a pardon and considers the following factors when making its determination:

• The severity of the offense
• The impact on the victim
• The victim’s input
• Past criminal history
• The amount of time that has passed since the most recent offense
• Whether the public interest will be served by granting a pardon
• The State’s Attorney’s opinion

Importantly, a person is not eligible for an expungement for three years after the commission of a misdemeanor and for five years after the commission of a felony.

Because the Board has discretion in making decisions about whether to grant a pardon, it is highly advisable for anyone seeking a pardon to consult with a lawyer.

Call Koffsky & Felsen, LLC Today to Speak with a Connecticut Expungement Lawyer

Don't let your past mistakes hold you back from achieving your goals and living the life you want. If you have a criminal record of any type in Connecticut, you should consider expungement and discuss your options with an attorney. The lawyers of Koffsky & Felsen, LLC are dedicated to helping people expunge their criminal records and move on with their lives. To schedule a consultation with one of our Connecticut expungement attorneys, call our office today at 203-327-1500 or send us an email through our online contact form .