CT governor signs bill erasing criminal records of more than 300,000 people – including felony convictions

HARTFORD, CT- Once again, a liberal state throws down with the criminals as crime explodes throughout the country. In Connecticut, the state legislature passed a so-called "clean slate" bill, according to CT News Junkie. The bill, which Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) said he would sign would automatically expunge records of selected criminal convictions.

"I'm certainly going to sign 'Clean Slate' as soon as I'm done with this press briefing," Lamont told reporters at a Thursday afternoon press briefing.

The bill is advertised as a means to allegedly help former inmates to move on with their lives and find employment by clearing records of past convictions after between seven or 10 years, depending on the severity of the crime. The bill covers misdemeanors, as well as some class D and E felonies.

Even though he signed the bill, Lamont expressed some reservations about the bill expunging felony convictions. Yet he still signed it. Lamont had told reporters over the past couple of weeks that he was still looking at the bill and had declined to say whether he would sign it.


After signing the bill, he also forwarded a letter to lawmakers asking them to address some concerns he had with the bill.

Legislators had made some alterations to the bill which excluded additional crimes from being expunged, however Lamont asked them to include additional felonies from being eligible. Lamont also expressed concerns about judicial and law enforcement access to erased records.

"I continue to have concerns that more felonies were not excluded. I also am concerned that the erased records will not be available to criminal justice agencies to consider in determining whether to issue a gun permit or to the Judicial Branch in the event the individual is someday back in court" [based on statistics a distinct probability], Lamont wrote.


"I call on the legislature to address these concerns."

Lamont noted that although sexually violent crimes or family violence crimes were not included in the legislation and will not be subject to erasure, he still had some concerns that more felonies were not excluded.

Just the day before, Lamont indicated a willingness to go along with the legislation.

"My instinct is I'm going to sign it. I gotta look at the final draft, I've got to see what the category of class D felonies they've added on top of misdemeanors but the guys that I've been talking to say that it's a pretty responsible thing to do and we'll probably sign it," Lamont said.

State Sen. Gary Winfield, a New Haven Democrat who co-chairs the Judiciary Committee said advocates for the bill had been pressing Lamont to sign it.


"This is a bill that has deep impacts on human beings and actually despite what some people would think this policy actually makes us safer," Winfield said, without expounding on how that was so.

"The whole argument about whether we have whole human beings or not, damaged human beings or not. That's a real think. I hope the governor cares enough about public safety so sign the bills."

Winfield obviously made those remarks prior to Lamont signing it.

The "Clean Slate" bill is one of three high-profile criminal justice bills which had been awaiting a signature from Lamont. One was a bill that would limit the use of solitary confinement, while the second would make calls from inside correctional facilities free.

Apparently, Connecticut at one time had some of the highest rates for inmate calls in the country.

Just last week, Lamont's budget director indicated the administration was willing to reduce the rates to make them move competitive with other states rather than making them totally free. Lamont had not indicated whether or not he would sign the bill, but indicated he was leaning toward doing so.

"It was not right that we were charging a big surcharge to folks who were incarcerated so they could call their loved ones at home. I would have put it more towards the market rate, but I understand there's strong bipartisan support to do it at no cost. So, I've got to take a look at that to make sure it fits within the budget," Lamont said.

According to Sen. Cathy Osten, co-chair of the Appropriations Committee, the budget passed by the legislature last week includes funding for free phone calls...





Connecticut passes bill expunging convictions for certain crimes