He gave an example of someone who committed a crime at 19 years old, and still could not qualify for housing at 27 - despite a decade of working at the same job. This bill will address some of the collateral consequences that follow a criminal conviction by requiring the automatic sealing and expungement of specified convictions. Cal Musselman, R-West Haven, spoke in support of the bill, saying he has encountered applicants as a rental property manager who could not get housing because of an old criminal conviction.
Having a criminal record can affect someone’s ability to get a job and can limit housing opportunities, so people often seek expungements to give them a fresh start after a minor conviction. A person must be crime-free for five years for a class C misdemeanor, six years for a class B misdemeanor and seven years for drug possession - the only class A misdemeanor that is eligible for expungement. Non-convictions would be sealed when the outcome of the case is final. CLEAN SLATE LEGISLATION Creating an automatic process for setting aside eligible misdemeanors after seven years and eligible non-assaultive felonies after. For misdemeanors, that period is 10 years. It covers mostly low-level crimes, and does not allow expungements for felonies, DUIs, or violent misdemeanors like domestic violence or sexual battery. House Bill 1419 allows minor, non-violent cases to be automatically sealed from public view after time has passed without conviction of a felony or a misdemeanor. The legislation does not change the eligibility criteria for expungements.
"If you do everything you're asked to do, and jump through all the hoops, there ought to be a mechanism that allows you to get your life back on track," Hutchings said.