Nolle v. Dismissal in Your Connecticut Criminal Case – How to Get the Best Result

• Connecticut prosecutors prefer to nolle a case instead of dismissing it.
• A Connecticut criminal case that’s nolled can be (but rarely is) reopened during the 13 month nolle period.
• The court can also dismiss a case, which is better than a nolle, but comes at a cost.
• Connecticut’s Erasure Statute allows for nolled and dismissed cases to be completely expunged.
• Once expunged, the best Connecticut criminal lawyers can get your arrest reports off the internet.

What is a Nolle in a Connecticut Criminal Case?

A “nolle prosequi,” more commonly known as a nolle, means that the Connecticut prosecutor is refusing to prosecute your case. This means they are not looking for you to plead guilty, not looking to put you on trial, and they do not want to go forward with prosecuting your case.

What is a Dismissal?

A dismissal of your Connecticut criminal arrest usually takes place either after you are found not guilty at trial or you successfully complete a Connecticut court diversionary program, like Accelerated Rehabilitation, the Alcohol Education Program, the Drug Education Community Service Program, or the Family Violence Education Program. These programs usually take 1 to 2 years for a dismissal.

Can I Get My Connecticut Criminal Court Case Dismissed without Using AR?

Possibly. Some of the best Connecticut criminal lawyers can at times get cases dismissed even without the use of a program by moving for dismissal immediately after a nolle is entered.

What is the Difference between a Nolle and Dismissal?

A nolle converts to a dismissal in 13 months from the date of nolle. Also, a Connecticut prosecutor can reopen a nolle and re-instate the nolled charges at their sole discretion during that 13 month time period. A dismissed case can never be reopened or brought back. Connecticut’s Erasure Statute is C.G.S. § 54-142a and orders all nolled cases to be dismissed and expunged on the date that is 13 months after the date the nolle is entered.

What Happens to My Police Reports & Mugshot after a Dismissal?

A dismissal (not a nolle) triggers automatic court expungement and destruction of your police reports, arrest records, mug shot, and fingerprints. Private sector employers will not be able to pull the arrest on background checks. However, the federal government will always have a record in their files.

Once your case is dismissed, you can start making efforts to remove your Connecticut arrest reports and mug shots off the internet. Click here for more info on the Mark Sherman Law Firm’s first-of-its-kind internet scrubbing practice.

Contact a Connecticut Criminal Dismissal Lawyer Today

When your freedom and online and offline reputations are on the line, you need to get the best result possible. Check out our hundreds of certified, former client reviews on avvo.com, and then call Mark Sherman Law today at (203) 358-4700 to learn more about how to start building your defense.