Gov. Ned Lamont says a program to clear the criminal records of people convicted of low-level cannabis possession will be implemented early next year. But, he says, there鈥檚 a delay in a wider rollout that would clean up the records of people convicted of other crimes.
鈥淭hose marijuana-related convictions 鈥� we鈥檙e going to get that done [in the] very first part of next year,鈥� Lamont said. 鈥淭here are also some low-level felonies that the legislature implemented 鈥� they may take a little bit longer to make sure we get that right.鈥�
The takes effect in 2023, and it will almost immediately clear the roughly 44,000 cases of people convicted of low-level cannabis possession. But a mix of IT issues and legal concerns is slowing down the process for other felonies. Advocates and lawmakers are pushing the state to move quickly. State Sen. Gary Winfield says the delay will be frustrating for those who were expecting movement come Jan. 1.
鈥淲e are speaking to the governor of the state and his staff,鈥� Winfield said. 鈥淎nd, I will assure you 鈥� and I would not do this, if you know me 鈥� that there is real work going on, and this is not just a delay because people don鈥檛 want to do this work. This delay is legitimate.鈥�
The state says that residents who have had their records erased can tell employers, landlords and schools that the conviction never occurred. Winfield says that鈥檚 exceptionally important.
鈥淚 live around some folks who have been some of the most stand-up people in the community, but maybe 20, 30 years ago they did something and somebody got a piece of paper and found out about that thing and think they know who that person is,鈥� Winfield said. 鈥淎nd what I can tell you is that piece of paper does not reflect who that person is now, it doesn鈥檛 reflect who they were 10 years ago. And you can鈥檛 see it. And so people think they are doing the right thing by not giving them housing, by not giving them a job, by not giving them a chance. But they鈥檙e doing exactly the wrong thing.鈥�
The legislature may take the issue up next year.
