Start with Connecticut Judicial Branch case lookup — not a generic background-check site
Connecticut criminal case information is split between several official systems. The Connecticut Judicial Branch provides free online access to many pending criminal and motor-vehicle cases, recent convictions, daily dockets and certain warrant information. The Connecticut State Police Bureau of Identification handles official statewide criminal-history record checks, while the Department of Correction maintains current inmate information. Knowing which record you actually need can save a lot of unnecessary searching.
Connecticut court records, criminal history and inmate records are different
A single arrest can create records in several systems. The police agency can hold the incident or arrest report, the Judicial Branch holds the resulting court docket, State Police can maintain conviction-history information, and the Department of Correction may hold custody information.
Criminal court case
Pending charges, court dates, docket information, conviction information and case status.
Criminal history record
Official Connecticut criminal conviction-history searches processed through the State Police Bureau of Identification.
Arrest / incident report
The agency that investigated an incident generally maintains the underlying police report.
Current custody
Information about people currently under Connecticut DOC supervision or incarceration.
Criminal appeal
Supreme Court and Appellate Court matters use a separate appellate case-lookup system.
Federal prosecution
Federal cases filed in the District of Connecticut are separate and are searched through PACER.
How to use Connecticut’s Criminal / Motor Vehicle Case Look-up
Connecticut’s main official criminal-case gateway is the Connecticut Judicial Branch Criminal / Motor Vehicle Case Look-up.
The page separates different search intentions instead of forcing everything into one search box. That is important because a person looking for a pending case should not use the same search as someone checking an older conviction.
Open official criminal case lookupPending Cases
Use when a criminal or motor-vehicle matter has not reached final disposition.
Convictions
Use when the intent is to find criminal or motor-vehicle charges that resulted in qualifying convictions.
Daily Docket
Useful for seeing matters scheduled for court by location or defendant.
Selected Warrants
Connecticut provides a separate public tool for certain Judicial Branch warrant categories.
Search pending Connecticut criminal cases by defendant or docket number
Use the pending-case search when the defendant’s case is still moving through Superior Court. Pending results can help identify the court location, docket number, next activity and scheduled date.
Open the Criminal / Motor Vehicle Case Look-up
Choose the pending-case search rather than the conviction search.
Search by defendant name
Start with the person’s legal last name. Add identifying details when the system offers them or when multiple people share the same name.
Use the docket number once you find it
Save the docket number. It is far more precise than repeatedly searching a common name.
Review the next activity
Check the next scheduled court event, hearing date, location and current status.
Return later for final disposition
Pending information can change. After the case concludes, review the final outcome rather than relying on the original charges.
How Connecticut’s online conviction search works
The Judicial Branch conviction search displays criminal and motor-vehicle charges that resulted in qualifying convictions within its online display period.
You can reach the conviction tools from the main Criminal / Motor Vehicle Case Look-up.
The Connecticut online conviction search has an important 10-year limit
Connecticut’s Judicial Branch states that criminal and motor-vehicle charges resulting in a conviction are shown through the online conviction lookup for approximately 10 years from the date of sentencing, subject to the Branch’s record-display rules.
That means a person can have an older Connecticut conviction even when the public Judicial Branch conviction search no longer displays it.
Some matters are excluded entirely
The public criminal lookup does not function as a complete historical database of every matter. Categories such as juvenile cases, youthful-offender matters and erased records have special confidentiality or disclosure rules.
Use Connecticut daily dockets to see what is scheduled in court
The criminal/motor-vehicle lookup hub also provides daily docket tools. These are useful when the reader already knows that a defendant is expected in court and wants to confirm the location or scheduled activity.
Typical search routes include:
- daily docket by court location
- daily docket by defendant
- pending case by defendant
- pending case by docket number
How to read a Connecticut criminal docket correctly
A docket is a timeline of the court case. It can contain charges, hearings, orders, pleas, continuances, dispositions and sentencing information.
| Docket item | What it generally means | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Docket number | The court’s unique case identifier. | Use this for later searches and copy requests. |
| Charge | The offense alleged or filed. | A filed charge is not itself a conviction. |
| Status | Whether the case remains pending or has reached another stage. | Look for the newest docket activity. |
| Plea | The defendant’s response to a charge. | Do not assume an earlier plea is the final outcome. |
| Disposition | How the charge or case was resolved. | Check each count separately. |
| Sentence | The punishment or court conditions imposed. | Read it together with the conviction count. |
| Next activity | The next scheduled court event. | Verify the date shortly before appearing. |
The docket number is your best shortcut for repeat searches
Connecticut docket numbers identify the court location and case type. Criminal docket numbers typically contain CR as the case-type identifier.
Once you locate the correct case, save the full docket number exactly as displayed. It can help with:
- returning to the case quickly
- finding the daily docket
- requesting court documents
- checking appellate activity
- distinguishing two defendants with similar names
- corresponding with the clerk
Connecticut has a public warrant tool — but it does not cover every warrant
The Connecticut Judicial Branch maintains an online Arrest Warrant / Violation of Probation lookup for specified warrant categories.
The tool concerns Judicial Branch information such as violation-of-probation warrants, failure-to-appear warrants and orders to incarcerate when those categories are being displayed.
If the warrant concerns you personally
Confirm the matter with the court that issued it rather than relying on a third-party warrant site. If you already know the related criminal docket number, use the criminal case lookup and the court directory to identify the proper clerk.
Open Judicial Branch warrant lookupWhy a Connecticut criminal case may not appear online
A “no records found” result can have several explanations.
The case is very new
A recent arrest may not yet have produced a publicly searchable court record.
The conviction is older
Online conviction display is limited in duration and is not a complete historical archive.
The record was erased
Connecticut law can make qualifying records unavailable to ordinary public inquiry.
Juvenile / youthful offender
These matters follow special confidentiality rules and are not handled like ordinary adult records.
The name search missed it
Try the correct legal spelling or use the docket number when available.
It is a federal case
Federal District of Connecticut cases are not part of the state criminal lookup.
How to get actual Connecticut criminal court documents
The online case lookup is extremely useful for finding a docket, but a docket summary is not always the same thing as obtaining the actual filed court document.
When you need a complaint, order, judgment, disposition or certified copy, use the Judicial Branch records process or contact the clerk associated with the case.
Court copy and certification charges can depend on the document and delivery method. Confirm the current amount with the Judicial Branch or the specific clerk before mailing payment.
Find the Connecticut Superior Court that handled the case
Connecticut’s Superior Court system uses Judicial District and Geographical Area locations rather than a single statewide criminal courthouse.
Criminal and motor-vehicle matters can be assigned to different Superior Court locations depending on where the alleged offense occurred and the type or stage of the case.
Find a Connecticut court locationBefore visiting a courthouse
- confirm the exact court location shown on the docket
- write down the docket number
- identify the document you want
- confirm clerk hours
- ask whether the file is still stored locally
- confirm any copy or certification fee
For an official statewide criminal-history search, use Connecticut State Police
The State Police Bureau of Identification (SPBI) is Connecticut’s central source for criminal-history record checks.
The Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice itself directs the public to either the State Police for criminal-history information or the Judicial Branch for court case information.
Current SPBI submission rule
Connecticut State Police currently states that criminal-history record-check requests requiring the Criminal Records Unit should be submitted by U.S. mail. The agency says not to email or fax those requests.
State Police Bureau of Identification
Department of Emergency Services and Public ProtectionState Police Bureau of Identification
1111 Country Club Road
Middletown, CT 06457
Criminal records unit: 860-685-8480
Use the official DESPP forms page to obtain the current Criminal History Record Request form and instructions.
Open Connecticut State Police formsCheck the SPBI fee before mailing your Connecticut request
This is especially important in October 2026.
The SPBI webpage currently continues to display service information including separate charges for fingerprinting and state criminal-history checks, but because of the October 1, 2026 rate-change notice, the safest approach is to call 860-685-8480 if the newest fee schedule is not clearly shown on the form you are using.
Older forms can be misleading
The long-standing DPS-0846-C form has historically shown different search options such as:
- Connecticut name/date-of-birth existence search
- Connecticut conviction-history search
- fingerprint-based Connecticut conviction-history search
- separate fingerprint collection charge
Fingerprint-based Connecticut searches provide stronger identity matching
A name-and-date-of-birth search can match the wrong person when names are common. Fingerprints provide substantially stronger identity verification.
SPBI fingerprinting is currently available by appointment, Monday through Friday, excluding state holidays. Connecticut also notes that some local police departments offer fingerprint services, but local availability and hours vary.
Determine whether fingerprints are required
The correct process depends on the reason for the background check and the agency requesting it.
Schedule an approved fingerprint appointment
Follow DESPP instructions or contact the relevant local police department.
Bring accepted identification
Review DESPP’s current identification list before the appointment.
Confirm all separate fees
Connecticut requires separate payment amounts for certain services. Confirm current charges first.
Police reports are separate from Connecticut criminal-history records
If the user wants the actual incident or arrest report, request it from the law-enforcement agency that created the report.
Connecticut State Police maintains its own Reports and Records service for State Police incident records.
The State Police page currently lists a non-refundable $16 search fee under C.G.S. § 29-10b for qualifying State Police report searches, whether or not a responsive report is produced. Online convenience fees may also apply.
Use Connecticut DOC for current inmate and custody information
The Connecticut Department of Correction Inmate Search is the official public service for people currently under DOC custody or supervision when the record is publicly available.
Searches can use identifying information such as name, date of birth or DOC number.
Open Connecticut DOC Inmate SearchWhat DOC information can include
- inmate number
- name
- date of birth
- latest admission date
- current location
- custody or supervision status
- bond information when applicable
- controlling offense
- sentence information
- estimated or maximum release information where available
DOC states that its public inmate information is updated daily, but status can change quickly. Certain youthful-offender and other protected information is excluded.
For additional offender-information questions, DOC currently lists its Public Information Office at 860-692-7780, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Connecticut sex-offender records use a separate public registry
The Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection maintains a separate searchable Sex Offender Registry.
Registry information can include the registrant’s last known address, physical descriptors and qualifying offense information.
Connecticut Sex Offender RegistryConnecticut Supreme Court and Appellate Court cases use another lookup
If a Superior Court criminal case was appealed, use the Judicial Branch’s Supreme and Appellate Court Case Look-up.
Open appellate case lookupAppellate search is useful for identifying later proceedings after the trial-level criminal case, including appellate docket activity and decisions when publicly available.
Federal criminal cases in Connecticut are not in the state court lookup
Federal prosecutions filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut must be searched separately.
The District of Connecticut directs users to PACER for federal case and docket information.
District of Connecticut case information Search PACERClean Slate and erasure can remove Connecticut records from public view
Connecticut’s Clean Slate laws provide automatic erasure for certain qualifying records, while other people may need to use a petition or another relief process.
Once a record is legally erased, it should not continue to appear in ordinary public Judicial Branch case lookup in the same way as an un-erased public conviction.
Connecticut Clean Slate informationWhy this matters when searching
A case that appeared years ago can later become unavailable because of:
- statutory erasure
- automatic Clean Slate relief
- cannabis-related erasure
- pardon-related changes
- court correction
- other lawful record modification
Juvenile and youthful-offender records are not ordinary public criminal dockets
Connecticut treats juvenile and youthful-offender matters differently from standard adult criminal proceedings.
These records are subject to special confidentiality rules and should not be expected to appear in the ordinary adult criminal conviction search.
A Connecticut court search is not automatically a compliant employment background check
The Judicial Branch’s free public lookup is designed for public court information. It should not automatically be treated as a complete criminal-history report or as a substitute for a legally required fingerprint or consumer-reporting process.
Employment, housing, licensing and other screening purposes can involve federal and Connecticut restrictions, consent rules, erased-record protections and specialized agency procedures.
State Police Bureau of Identification location
SPBI is located at Connecticut State Police Headquarters in Middletown. Criminal-history requests are currently handled primarily by mail, while fingerprint services are appointment-based.
Connecticut criminal-record search tips that prevent common mistakes
Pending and conviction are separate searches
Choose the tool that matches the case stage instead of repeatedly searching the wrong database.
Save the docket number
It is the fastest identifier for repeat court searches and record-copy requests.
Check the daily docket
If a hearing is supposed to happen today, verify the schedule shortly before traveling.
Older conviction missing?
The public conviction lookup is not a complete lifetime history. Contact the court or records office.
Official history means State Police
Use SPBI when you need an official Connecticut criminal-history record rather than a docket overview.
Verify the current SPBI fee
A rate change took effect October 1, 2026, so older forms may not show the newest amount.
Arrest report? Ask the arresting agency
State Police cannot automatically supply a report created by a municipal police department.
Current custody means DOC
The Judicial Branch docket and DOC inmate search answer different questions.
Federal case? Switch systems
Use PACER for federal District of Connecticut prosecutions.
Common questions about Connecticut criminal court records
1. Can I search Connecticut criminal court records online for free?
Yes. The Connecticut Judicial Branch provides a free Criminal / Motor Vehicle Case Look-up covering public pending cases, qualifying conviction information, daily dockets and related criminal case resources.
2. Can I search a pending Connecticut criminal case by name?
Yes. Use the pending-case defendant search from the Connecticut Judicial Branch Criminal / Motor Vehicle Case Look-up. Once you find the correct case, save the docket number for more precise follow-up searches.
3. How long do convictions stay in Connecticut’s online court search?
The Judicial Branch’s public criminal conviction lookup generally displays qualifying convictions for approximately ten years from sentencing. Older matters may require a court-record request.
4. Is the Connecticut Judicial Branch lookup an official criminal-history background check?
No. It is an official court case-information service, but Connecticut directs formal statewide criminal-history requests to the State Police Bureau of Identification.
5. Where do I order a Connecticut statewide criminal-history record?
Use the Connecticut State Police Bureau of Identification. SPBI provides criminal-history record request instructions and forms through the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.
6. How much does a Connecticut State Police criminal-history check cost?
DESPP has posted notice of a fee change effective October 1, 2026. Because older forms and parts of the website may display earlier amounts, verify the current fee with SPBI before submitting payment.
7. How do I find someone currently incarcerated in Connecticut?
Use the Connecticut Department of Correction Inmate Search. DOC warns that current incarceration does not necessarily mean the person has been convicted because accused persons awaiting trial can also be held in Connecticut correctional facilities.
8. Does Connecticut have an online warrant search?
The Judicial Branch provides a public lookup for specified warrant categories such as certain violation-of-probation and related warrants. It is not a complete database of every warrant in Connecticut, so a blank result should not be treated as proof that no warrant exists.
9. Why did an old Connecticut criminal case disappear from search results?
Possible reasons include the online conviction display period, statutory erasure, Clean Slate relief, a pardon, correction of court data, youthful-offender confidentiality or another lawful restriction.
10. Where do I search a federal criminal case filed in Connecticut?
Use PACER for federal District of Connecticut cases. State Judicial Branch case lookup does not contain federal prosecutions.
Official Connecticut sources used for this guide
- Connecticut Judicial Branch — Criminal / Motor Vehicle Case Look-up
- Connecticut Judicial Branch — Case Look-up
- Connecticut Judicial Branch — Selected Arrest Warrant Search
- Connecticut Judicial Branch — Court Locations
- Connecticut Supreme and Appellate Court Case Look-up
- Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice — Criminal Records
- Connecticut State Police — State Police Bureau of Identification
- Connecticut State Police — Forms and Criminal History Request
- Connecticut State Police — Incident Reports and Records
- Connecticut Department of Correction — Inmate Search
- Connecticut DOC — Inmate Information
- Connecticut Sex Offender Registry
- Connecticut Clean Slate
- Connecticut Clean Slate — How to Access Criminal Records
- U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut — Case Information
- PACER — Federal Court Case Search