This is an open forum provided by the Connecticut Pardon Team to exchange thoughts and ideas related to the process of expunging criminal records through the pardons process.
H O W L O N G I S L O N G E N O U G H ? ______________________________________________________________________
For any man or woman convicted of a crime, successfully completing their sentence, along with any assigned parole or probation, is just the beginning. After their release from confinement, they are faced with re-integrating themselves back into their community – often in the same area and with the same influences that provided them opportunity to break the law in the first place.
Their search for employment is often stonewalled by the fact that they now have a conviction on their record. Employers performing a routine search find the negative information, and unless they are part of a progressive federal or state program, or willing to give the applicant a second chance, the applicant is put at the bottom of the list of candidates – if they remain on the list at all.
The goal of improving their own economic status and fighting the impulse to return to their former ways is complicated further by the fact that even advanced education – like a master’s degree – is often not enough to convince a potential employer to give them another chance. Apartment leases, home mortgages, opening a bank account or a credit card, and many other processes that non-offenders take for granted are often closed to these individuals. This situation continues for as long as the conviction stays on their record, and with the advent of computers, the information is even easier to find.
How long is long enough for a person convicted of a crime, who has successfully completed their parole and / or probation, to continue to pat for that crime? The Connecticut Pardon Team was founded in 2004 to provide tools and information for individuals convicted of a crime who are interested in clearing their record through the non-inmate pardon within our state through our Pardon Assistance Program.
People with past records are lucky to live in Connecticut, since it has a very progressive pardons process. In many states the only way to obtain a pardon is through the Governor's office, while other states have no pardons process at all. There is also free help with the process through the Connecticut Pardon Team. For those who wish to move forward in life, count your blessings and get started.
Thank you to the Connecticut Pardon Team for the great Pig Roast at Mohegan Park on July 19th. It was nice to hear the stories of those who had filed their pardon applications, and how those pardons changed their lives for the better.
Last week I recieved my letter that I was granted a hearing! words cannot express the gratitude I have for the members of the Connecticut Pardon Team. They are really out there to help people move forward.
Great Work from the Connecticut Pardon and all of the staff.Thanks for restoring those who have made a mistake in life and allowing them forward and take there rightful place in society.
I have a question. I was convicted for a misdimeanor class C back in 2004. I wanted to start the process of Charges Expungement but I see that the next hearing date I can apply for is next year. I was planning on going back to my country on vacation (I haven't left the US since that case affraid of being barred when I try to come back, but I NEED to go on December). If I apply for a hearing, is it possible to postpone it in case it is granted? What happens if I am not allowed to come back ( I am in legal status with a work visa but those criminal charges have been chasing me for the last almost 5 years and my life will never be the same)?
The gentleman who wrote asking the question, with a misdimeanor class C back in 2004, needs to call the CPT office Monday about noon time. 860 823 1571 Rich
I sent my pardon application in before the last deadline. I have yet to receive a letter in the mail informing me of a Nov/Dec hearing date or a letter telling me to apply again later. None of the five references that were kind enough to write something on my behalf have been contacted either. Should I be concerned or is this typical? Thanks.
Dear Sent Application, you should call the St of CT Pardons and Parole Board. They can tell you what your status is. Their # is 203-805-6643 Hit "0" to speak to a real breathing person. Ask for Doug, Sal or Rasa one of them should be able to assist you:)
I received a letter stating I was not granted a hearing and would be told why in a couple of weeks. I sent in all my orginal papers, letters etc. Do I have to get all new original papers again or can I submit coppies of the originals next time I apply? How soon should I send in my application again? Thanks you guys have been a great help so far.
No, as long as you have copies and don't catch another case you can use the same paperwork. The BOP will send you a letter stating why you were denied and a period of time you have to wait before you can apply again. You can always re-apply. However, it is always at the discretion of the Ct Board of Pardons and Parole.
I don't know the method of how or why lawyers charge. It is a Business. Some people prefer a lawyer. However, having a lawyer to do your package does not increase your chances or give the individual any guarantees. If a Petitioner is granted a full hearing to appear before the BOP tey want to hear from the petitioner.
Thanks so much for getting me in touch with one of the officers over at the pardon board. I guess I'm on the provisional pardon list and should receive a letter next week if they hear nothing from the state's attorney's office or from any of the victims. This sounds like good news, I think... Please keep it in your prayers. My family and I could really use this. This is been hanging over our heads just way too long. Thanks for all your help!!!
I was trying to fill the form (Pardon Petition) but I am terrified about asking 3 people who know me to provide references.
One of the worst fears I live with everyday is exactly to think that ANYBODY can find about what I did (even though it was a misdemeanor), especially family and friends.
Any thoughts? How do you face friends or acquaintances with your most terrible secret?
In regard to finding three references for your application, you'd be surprised how understanding people will be about the matter. I had to do this for my own application - which was successful, by the way - but ended up asking five people and all five were glad to help out. Getting the references is a mandatory part of the process, so your best bet is to pick the people you trust the most and just go for it. Your true friends will never abandon you or reveal your personal information to those who shouldn't have it. Everyone who has ever gotten a pardon has had to get these references, so while it can be an awkward process, I've never heard of even a single example where someone refused to help out. Best of luck to you!
Thanks for your words of encouragement. I wish I still had that level of trust in people. I have been so dissapointed with people in the last couple of years and at this point I can't say I have one single friend I could trust with this secret that has kept me locked in my shell and with anti-depression medications.
I don't know what else to do. Everything seems to get harder and harder. I wish I could just wake up from this nightmare or just stay asleep.
My friend, I completely understand your distrust of people. It is, unfortunately, warranted 99.9% of the time. But here it is, bottom line: You have a choice. You can either take the very short term risks of asking for three letters of reference, or you can spend the rest of your life living in fear with a criminal record. So in the very unlikely occurence that someone says no or betrays your confidence, so what? With just misdemeanors on your record, there is an excellent chance of a pardon waiting on the other end. Like a very good friend of mine always says, you have nothing to lose but a criminal record. Go for it.
If you were arrested for shoplifting, and not fingerprinted. to be safe I would contact the Department of Public Saftey and pay $25.00 to recieve my conviction record. If you have a conviction before your trip abroad. I suggest you look into appling for a waiver so you can travel since you are not a US citizen. You might want to contact an Immigration Atty.
I was granted a pardon hearing for the November date. I have just noticed the website indicated that it is on November 17th in Bridgeport but my letter states November 19th in Waterbury. I hope someone repsonds to this post quickly so that if it is Monday I do not miss it.
Also...is there any last minute pointers anyone is willing to share to help me present my case to the Board?
The info on your letter that states your hearing is November 19th in Waterbury is correct, so you can disregard what the website says.
As per tips for your hearing, dress respectfully, speak respectfully, be honest with the Board of Pardons & Paroles, own up to your charges and show that you are sorry for them, be prepared to say why you deserve a pardon, and be ready to discuss any volunteer and/or community work you have performed and how you have helped other people.
The Board of Pardons & Paroles does not want to deny pardon applications, but sometimes petitioners behave so inappropriately during their hearings that the BOPP has no choice but to issue a denial. If you are truly ready, you will do well.
I've received a letter stating that my application for a pardon was heard by a pre-screening panel and that I've been denied an absolute pardon. It also says that my application is being reviewed for provisional pardon consideration. Do they grant provisional pardons without one having to attend a hearing? I thought for sure that I'd have to attend today's session in Bridgeport.
To the person with the question about provisional pardons: In almost all cases, it is necessary to attend a hearing to obtain a pardon, whether it be provisional or absolute. Per the DOC website, the next provisional pardon hearing is scheduled for Dec. 12, 2008 in Waterbury. If you are granted a hearing, you will be notified as such in writing prior to Dec. 12th by the Board of Pardons and Paroles.
I was granted an administrative Pardon on Nov.17th .Although I completed the application myself,I could not have done it without the information on the CT Pardon Team website and a couple of phone calls to their office.They pointed me the right direction,and that led to getting a Pardon without even getting in front of the Pardon Board! On Nov. 16th I was a convicted felon,on Nov. 17th,I'm a free man.
At my pardon hearing today, i stating why i feel i deserve a pardon using while being remorsful and apologetic. I stated what I have done with my life and how a pardon will help my moving forward. They asked if I have use AA before, which i have, and then the reason, which i shared. I was honest and didnt hide anything. Then they dismissed me.....i kinda felt like I was just turn down by the girl at the end of the bar...is it normal for them to onyl ask one or two questions then dimiss you or did i most likly not please the board?
To jla5151: It is not altogether unusual to recieve only a few questions from the Board. They only asked me a few questions and I was granted my pardon. There are many other factors, such as the nature of your conviction(s) and how long ago they were. From what I saw, the more questions the board asked, the less favorable it appeared for the applicant. Bu at this point, just hope for the best, and we'll all be thnking good thoughts for you.
thank you. maybe i can sleep with a little more ease the next two weeks. i was more nervous after i spoke with the board then when i was in front of them. I appreciate all the help I have recieved from this site....there is a lot of info and resources here for anyone looking to recieve a pardon. Best of luck to any one applying and thank you for all your support
To the person who asked how long after Nov 15th it might take to hear about a hearing: In the past, you'd know about getting a hearing about a month before the actual hearing date. So, since your November 15, 2008 application submission would be for a hearing (approx.) Feb 25th or March 25th 2009, you would probably hear back from the Board of Pardons & Paroles around the beginning of February or March, 2009.
Could you further explain what a provisional pardon means? I guess I don't have a full grasp on it. Also, if the provisional hearings are on Dec 13th, how soon should I be receiving a letter?
Regarding Provisional Pardons: A Provisional pardon, unlike an Expungement (or Absolute) pardon, does not suppress or erase the petitioner's criminal history. Instead, when a Provisional pardon is granted, the Board of Pardons & Paroles generates a letter on behalf of the petitioner regarding their fitness to work in particular profession(s), some of which might require licensure. This letter would be intended to help the petitioner to secure a professional license or gain employment where they might not have been able to do so otherwise due to their past criminal convictions.
There are instances where a Provisional pardon would not be appropriate and would not likely be granted, such as when a petitioner has drug-related convictions and they want to apply for a nursing license with medication-dispensing duties.
Have a Provisional pardon does not preclude a petitioner from applying for a full Expungement pardon at a future date.
So, a provisional pardon does not seal your record at all for work purposes? Can prospective employers can still use your record to deny employment with a provisional pardon? I'm just curious how having a letter helps anybody. I already have numerous reference letters from previous employers, etc. that I utilize for work purposes. I am a white collar professional that deals with the public and have been denied many times over for positions that I'm well qualified for because of my background. I am not exaggerating when I state that each time I've been unemployed, which has been 5 times over the last 10 years through no fault of my own, I've had to go through 30+ interviews before I get someone sympathetic enough to look over the background issues, due to my line of work. Based upon your description of a provisional pardon, if granted, I'd just have one more letter to add to the bunch I already supply. Can a prospective employer still deny me employment based on my record if I have been granted a provisional pardon?
That is a good question, if a prospective employer can still deny a provisional pardon holder based on their background. I'll have to verify that, but I would think that they could. And the reality of the situation is that an employer could simply devise another reason if they feared any risk of denying you based on your background.
But even though a provisional pardon wouldn't provide total relief from background-related denials, don't be too quick to dismiss it. Having a provisional pardon would certainly do you no harm, and could actually make a difference with an employer who needs just that much additional comfort level prior to making a hiring decision.
Also, obtaining a provisional is a good stepping stone to the next level of obtaining a full expungement pardon, i.e. show the Board of Pardons that you've gone through the steps of obtaining the provisional and have lived productively since, and it would likely reflect favorably in your next application for a full pardon.
As an aside, I too am a white collar professional, and until recently lived with the same horrid job-seeking experiences you've lived with. I got denied for a full pardon the first time around, had to wait two years to re-apply, but was granted the full pardon on my second try. The eligibility requirements were much tougher at first too, i.e. applicants had to wait for five years after their probation or parole was fully served to apply, not just five years after their conviction like now. This meant I had to wait a full ten years after my convictions even to apply the first time around, and another two years after an initial denial to re-apply. But as tough as it was to deal with, the time went by, I did what I needed to do, and now the nightmare is over.
I mention all this to you in hopes that you will go forward and never give up. As a very good friend of mine always says, "You have nothing to lose but a criminal record." The very best of luck to you.
I just wanted to reach out to you and say thank you for your help Rich. I found out today in the mail that I was issued a provisional pardon for work purposes and should be receiving a certificate in the mail in the next few weeks. FYI... I did not have to attend a hearing either. I do not know exactly what that means, but I suppose it's a start. How soon can I apply for an absolute pardon, or should I just be patient and wait for the certificate? Thank you, thank you, thank you... May God bless you for your good work!!!
Dear Reach out, That's great that you recieved a Provisional Pardon. It's a start on the right track. Because the Provisional Pardon is fairly new, i am going to direct you to call the Board of Pardons at 203-805-6643 hit 0 to speak to someone breathing and ask fro Sal, Doug or Rasa about the time frame when you can apply. Then call the office at 823.1571 so we can discuss this in detail. Again Good luck you are on your way!!!!
No more discrimination in the city of Norwich! That is great news that finally everyone will be on equal ground when applying for a city job. I hope local venders, business and THE STATE picks this one up. I am looking forward to more towns in CT passing the same ordinance.
A person may submit a pardon application once every calendar year, regardless of the type of pardon being applied for. The most current pardon application allows a person to apply for a Provisional pardon and a Full/Absolute pardon at the same time. The application assumes you are appying for a Full/Pardon, but there is a box that asks if you also want to be considered for a Provisional pardon. Be sure to check 'Yes' on that box, as there is no cost to doing so. If you have additional questions, please feel free to post them here and/or to call the Board of Pardons and Paroles directly.
So, if I've been granted a provisional pardon this year I could apply for an absolute pardon next year? Do I have to recomplete all the paperwork all over again, including new references? How does that work?
Yes, if you've been granted a provisional pardon this year, you can apply for an absolute pardon next year. You do have to fill out a new application form to make sure you submit current information, but you can use your hit sheets from your prior application. You can use your original reference letters, but it is advisable to have your references sign and date them again to show that the letters are still current. You would also want to update your personal statement to show any new accomplishments you have had. Best of luck to you.
I had a hearing on Nov 15 and still have not heard word on whether or not I will recieve a pardon. Should I call the Board? I know they said it may take about 2 weeks, but its been a month. I gave a little long giving the holiday and what not.
The Connecticut board of pardons is a waste of time.. Two times I have applied and two times denial.. It brings false hope! It seems that the most common excuse is "insufficient time" but my charges were misdemeanors in 2004.. the whole operation is questionable.. My denial letter does not even have board members signatures.. its like if the prescreening never even took place... something must be done with their system of operation.. oh.. the fist denial letter is a waste of paper.. they should mail out the official letter a few weeks after the hearing.. Pre-screening does not work.. it does not give the applicant full opportunity of a formal hearing.. its like lotto and its room for discrimination!!! I am fed up!!! Going for a third year….
PS: If they send out one letter of denial instead of two: i beleave it can save them money on “paper” and hire another human to send out the official denial letter in a timely manor. Think smart not stupid!!
To jla5151: If you feel you should have a response from the Board of Pardons & Paroles by now, then by all means call and ask. They may be backed up due to high volumes of pardon applications, but no harm in asking.
To the person who feels “the Connecticut board of pardons is a waste of time”: While it is painful to receive one or more denials, the next time you apply it will be five years since your misdemeanor convictions. The Board will see that you've continued to live an upstanding life since your prior applications, and that you've had the tenacity to keep going and keep trying. The availability of a Pardons process is a great privilege that is not available in most states - and it is a privilege, not a right. The Board does not enjoy or wish to deny applicants, but it is at their discretion to do so. In addition to adding another year of good citizenship to your next application, be sure to look for ways to improve your application – more community service, more letters of reference, have your personal statement critiqued by a trusted party – but don’t give up. The rewards of getting those charges off your record are too great to pass up. The very best of luck to you.
Ok, I'd received a provisional pardon. Due to the nature of my work I often have to be contracted with a number of companies. In most cases that has never been a problem, even before the pardon, but admittedly I have been denied contracting for a few. With provisional pardon in hand I had to get contracted with another company just recently. Even after disclosing my record and noting the receipt of the pardon they have still chosen to deny my request. Anybody who has a license with the State of CT and has a "clean" record should never have a problem being contracted. It doesn't matter the length of time or experience one has, these are granted all the time. What recourse do I have at this point? I even gave them a contact name and number over at the Board. I know nothing is ever easy. I'm used to that. But I thought this would be a solution to the problems I've experienced finding work or with licensing and contracting. Please advise.
If you can prove that a prospective employer denied you work based on charges for which you have received a provisional pardon, then you may have some legal recourse. As per what that recourse might be, your best source of that information would be the Board of Pardons and Paroles itself.
While a provisional pardon is helpful in removing some of the barriers to securing work, any prospective employer can still run a background check on you and see your past criminal charges, thus at times you can still be subjected to the prejudicial notions of those who do not grasp the concept of full rehabilitation. Short of suing everyone you suspect of such prejudices, your only sure course of action for avoid such discrimination is to apply for and receive a full/expungment pardon.
But please contact the Board of Pardons & Paroles for more information, and you definitely want to apply for a full pardon as soon as you are next eligible.
It seems that I continue to get the run around. The Board of Pardons tells me that only an attorney can tell me what recourse, legal or otherwise, I may have and since GHLA is one of the organizations that helped to write the provisional pardon legislation that would be my best bet. Greater Hartford Legal Aid tells me my wife makes too much (38k) and they can't help me. Obviously a full pardon is what I really need, but where do I turn to for help in the mean time?
Dear Run Around, Please contact me, Jackie Caron 1-866-251-3810 it is VM. leave me the info to contact you so I can contact you we can discuss your options.
Does a provisional pardon have any effect on a motor vehicle license? I have three DUI's (old) and a permenant license revocation. Would a provisional pardon give me the ability to get a drivers license? Also, the pardon form asks for a copy of a ID. I only have a very old ID. Connectecut does not allow people with a permenant driver license revocation to get a state ID, only does with a temporary suspension. It is real hard living without ID. Can I copy my old expired DL ( 1995 ) onto the application?
I do not know how that would apply to a permenant license revocation. You can contact the CT Board of Pardons and Parole at 1-203-805 6643 and press "0" to speak to a live person and ask to speak to Doug or Sal
After two months of waiting and finally refusing to get off the phone with the Board (who could not locate my file), I received my letter today from my November hearing, the I was denied an absolute pardon but granted a provisional. From what I read it seems that if a company runs a background check on you, they can still see your record and deny you a job cause of it, hence where the provisional pardon prevents them juding you on your record (or is suppose to). First question- I live in New York, does the provisonal pardon protect me seeing everything is granted to me from the State of Connecticut?
NEXT- The majority of work I do is in retail. My crime is a theft related misdemenor. According to what I see, they can deny me a job if the crime is directly related to the job, wouldn't you find a larceny crime and retail go almost hand and hand? SO my question is, how do I go about appling for a job in retail, even with my provsional pardon, if they can still see my record and relate it to that line or work and deny me a job legitly?
Lastly, how long before i can appling for an absolute pardon and continue wasting my time with the only thing that seems to offer hope. I understand that the Board is a service to help people, and that I have put myself in the situation I am in, BUT all i have gotten from the Board is the run around, a pardon which seems to do me no good (if i am looking at it correctly which I may not be) and a bunch of crap which includes losing records. This site and the people helping are the only thing that have kept my hope up and I allow me to believe that not every government department is run like this one and there is order somewhere. The governor should be made aware of how this system truly operates and fix the kinks that waste so many peoples time including there own.
I have a lawyer that will charge me $2000. I am extremely nervous but have confidence that I could fill out the application by myself. Do most people do this on their own or with the help of a lawyer?
Don't waste your money. I filled it out, got the reference letters, and then had Rich over at the Pardon Team give me some constructive feedback. I then went back and made some amendments and even asked some of my references if they would kindly reword some things. I got as far as a provisional pardon at least. Hope this helps.
Agreed - it is a complicated process, but it is not necessary to hire an attorney. The Pardon Team will help you with your application and much more on top of that. You can save your money and get better services with the Pardon Team.
Is the entire time line from arrest to conviction to completion of probation factored in? I ask because I have two unspecified misdemeanors (no class a, b, c, etc) I was arrested oct 03', convicted under no contest (I plead out because I was traumatized and terrified) march of 05' and completed my probation sept. 07' In fairness this makes the actual crime a lot older then just when my sentence was completed. Also, a provisional pardon does me absolutely no good...I need a pardon to be able to do clinical rotations, this is a huge barrier to my education (but not licensing as a healthcare professional, go figure). I have a 3.7 GPA so far , but I guess Im not hopeful I'll ever be able to get around this for my education. I can't go to the colleges I want to for the programs I want because my charges are automatically disqualifying ( in case your wondering the disqualifier is a firearms charge with a max sentence of 90 days)
is any of this factored by the board? or do they just look at the dates, stamp it "not enough time" and move on or do they actually look at the whole applicant? Ive been a volunteer for almost 8 years in emergency services...Im so frustrated, and worried I won't be able to get any further and Im not getting any younger.
the above should be corrected to arrested oct 04, convicted march 06, probation completed sept 07' I was also on minimal probation if this helps any. I had to check in every 8 weeks
oh and another question...(same person as the timeline question) does it matter WHO the letters of reference are from? I can get letters easily from virtually an entire ambulance corps, fire department and from several officers including the arresting officer I'm telling you, mines truly a bizarre case
I am going into the criminal justice field and I was thinking about trying to get into law enforcement. I was wondering if I could get my right to bare arms reinstated?
To all, Everyone's package is different. Each is looked at as a individual. EVERYTHING is factored in to your package even if you had a youthful offense. This is why it is so important to make sure everthing is put down on your application. We here at the Connecticut Pardon Team, Inc have no bearing on the decisions of the Ct Board of Pardons and Parole. What we do is to educate, advocate and assist participants so you will have to tools to put your best package forward. We always encourage people to move forward because time is going to pass you by anyway and the only thing you got to lose is A RECORD. So, don't procrastinate, elevate yourself and move forward. If you need help call us, but realize we are run only on volunteers and no one is paid to do what we do and we servive off of donations. Therefore, wgen we are out doing imformationals about this program and the application process , no one may be in the office and it may take us a minute to get back to you but we will. So if anyone out ther is interested in volunteering or want to donate to our non-profit program. please contact our office via our website or by calling 860-823-1571
Is it normal for one not to receive a pardon certificate 3-4 months after one receives a letter telling you one is forthcoming? I've called numerous times (I feel like I'm annoying them) and have been told it would be issued this date and that date and now I'm told to wait another 2 weeks out due to a backlog. I could really use this now for work purposes and the letter they sent isn't satisfying any employer I provide a copy to. One would think that if a letter could be generated so quickly, that they might as well just include the certificate along with it. Am I missing something here? Does the Governor or Attorney General have to sign off on it or something? Are my expectations just to high?
In CT If you have a record in CT you can vote. At the Capitol in Hartford, session just started and public hearings are about to start and they are there the you the public to speak your piece and ask for change. I would strongly suggest that if you want change, then you need to help make change by going to the hearings and giving testimony on how the process is or is not working. Otherwise things will not change. Sometimes we have to put ourselves on front street to make a point and start change. This is how the Connecticut Pardon Team got it's start. Keep calling, because they get paid to answer your questions by your tax dollars.
Public hearings specifically related to the pardon process? Or general public hearings? Where and when are they being held? I'd be more than happy to stop by if I had details.
What actually happens at a pardon hearing? Are you in front of the board and hundreds of people? Are you up there for a long time? Do they want you to tell the whole story of what happened or do you just answer their questions>
First , you can view the hearings Schedule on the Website. The hearings are in a court room setting. Usually, they are well attended and some people will have lawyers (however you are not required to have one)but most are there with out one. There will be prosecuters and victims ther to give there input on during the hearing. you are called up and asked a few questions. Note: that they have already done a thorough background investigation on you and probabaly know more about you than your own family does. you will not find out if you have a pardon immediatwely. you will wait to hear in a form of a letter that will tell you if you recieved a pardon. If you have recieved one, you will be instructed to wait to recieve an certificate before you can actualyysay that you don't have a record. If you do not recieve a pardon, they will send you a letter staing that and a follow-up letter will be sent to you telling you why you were denied and the next time you can apply. A successful application takes about 16 months. It is not easy,and it shouldn't be. This is an opportunity to start your life over and live it to the fullest---- the Utimate Re-Entry. If you need more info please contect us:)
Hi, I am new to the site. I just wanted to find out from others who have been working on the team or been through the process....
When I am writing my own account of what happened and how I feel my life has changed what points should I focus on? What things should I avoid? Are there any sites or places I can research for various examples of letters?
Also,My goal is that I want this completley taken off of my record "expungement". However, I heard that you should check the provisionary box anyhow so at least your able to obtain something?? Any thoughts on that?
When writing your Personal Statement, be brief, totally honest, and stay focused on the positives in your life since your conviction(s). Talk about your family, your work, what you are doing to better yourself, and your ongoing work in the community. Do not re-live your crimes, but be sure to express remorse for them. Try to keep your statement down to 2-3 pages at the most. There is no particular research base for writing an effective personal statement, and since you want your statement to be sincere and individual, you wouldn't want to draw on other applicant's letters anyway.
It is entirely up to the Board of Pardons & Paroles as to whether you receive a full/expungement pardon, a provisional pardon, or a denial. There is no harm in being considered for a provisional pardon, so you might as well check the box to be considered.
The very best of luck to you, and be sure to stay in contact if you have any additional questions.
It is completely acceptable to include photos of yourself doing community work. Other pardon applicants have done this before, and it always seems to be received well. The very best of luck to you.
There is a lot of talk about community service. What if you have not done a lot of community service is that something that is held against you? Anonymous
Community service is looked upon very favorably by the Board of Pardons & Paroles. The Board is certainly understanding of limited participation due to legitimate time constraints (i.e. single parent, family members needing care, etc.) but past that, it is best to get involved as soon as possible. Best advice: Start now, do your best, and stay involved even if/when you are granted a pardon.
Is the personal statement in addition to section 13 Purpose of Application or is this where you actually write your personal statement. Also when I am done with my application would the pardon team look over it or do i need to make an appointment?
To the person asking about Section 13 of the Pardon application: Please call the Connecticut Pardon Team Office and someone will help you out. The toll-free number is 1-866-251-3810.
I am currently working om my pardon application. I have 2 charges from 1990 in the state of connecticut. I also have a federal offense from 1998. I don't see anywhere on the application to fill in a federal offense. Should I put it under other state offenses or leave it off.
Do individuals who've been pardoned, provisional or absolute, ever receive their certificate from the State of CT. I was supposedly granted a provisional pardon back in October, at least that's what the letter they sent me tells me. I've yet to receive anything official. I've called numerous times and I don't want to be perceived as impatient, but I am. I could really use this thing. They'll tell me I'm getting it this week and then two weeks from now and now there's a backlog and we should be getting them done this week and so on and so forth. (I'm not exaggerating here either.) Help, I'm still waiting...
To the person who had a federal offense from 1998: You do NOT want to leave any charges off of your application. Use the 'Other State Offenses' area or submit the information on a separate piece of paper. The Board of Pardon and Paroles needs to know about any and all legal issues you have had, and they can and will deny an application if it has missing information.
To the person who asked if 'ever receive their certificate from the State of CT'. The answer is yes, absolutely. The Board of Pardons and Paroles has finite resources and is extremely busy processing Pardon applications, so it can be a frustrating experience waiting for your certificate. Please continue to call if needed and ask for Doug, Sal, or Rasa. Their # is 203-805-6643 - Hit "0" to speak to speak with someone. If you still haven't received your certificate in a couple of weeks then call the CT Pardon Team office for further assistance.
Hi, I'm assisting my husband in filling out the expungement request. He is not very trusting of the system and does not want to list one of his current employers due to the fact that he thinks the board may contact them. On his application for the job, he was not asked about any criminal history and the employer did not perform a background check. He is afraid that they will contact his employer and that he will face negative reprocussions like loosing his job or not being eligible for future promotions. I told him that he needed to face his fears and include all information. In addition, I think a reference letter from his current employer would be beneficial toward his request because he has been very successful. He doesn't want to disclose to them any information about his past. Could he include a reference letter regarding his success at work in addition to his resume and educational degrees to show that he is a positive contributor to his employer without it being a letter of reference for pardon purposes? What do you advise?
And thank you so much for providing this service :) You are a God send!
To the person assisting her husband: Do not under any circumstances omit or falisfy any information on a pardon application for any reason ever. Doing so would not only be an invitation for a denial of the pardon application, it would also be illegal and just plain wrong. A pardon applicant must be willing to take some risks when applying for a pardon. The Board of Pardons and Paroles can and probably will verify a pardon applicant's employment without directly contacting their employer anyway. Your husband will also be required to submit three letters of reference wherein the references must acknowledge awareness of the petitioner's past crimes. It is not necessary to ask one's employer for a letter of reference, it is just a nice-to-have. Any positive letters of reference or any documentation showing positive accomplishments should be included. Your husband needs to be fully engaged in completing his pardon application, especially when writing his personal statement. Best of luck, and please contact the Board of Pardons and Parole of the Connecticut Pardon Team with any additonal questions.
Thank you for your advice. I told my husband that he either had to take the risk and apply for the pardon, omitting nothing, or not apply for it at all. He has been eligible to apply for some time, but his fears have always kept him back. It bothers me that although he has paid his debt to society and is a wonderful upstanding citizen that he is afraid of his past haunting him... especially when it comes to employment. He has been turned down from many jobs due to his record even though he is more than qualified for the position. I keep telling him that he has nothing to fear but fear itself, but perhaps if he would go to the Connecticut Pardon Team and see the people who have been granted pardons, then he could believe in the system again and not feel that he would have to pay for his mistake forever. Thank you for the work that you do. I'm sure he'll be visiting you soon!
And you may want to mention this to your husband: He can live with the short-term fear associated with applying for a pardon or he can live with the fear of having his past discovered for the rest of his life. He can contact the Board of Pardons and Paroles when he submits his application and specifically ask that they not directly contact his employer. The Board is understanding of the sensistive nature of the situation. Best of luck going FORWARD!
That depends on what type of motor vehicle infraction. For a simple lane-change violation, you would not have to report it as a criminal violation on your pardon application. For a DUI or some other more serious infraction involving a motor vehicle, you would have to report the violation on your application. If you are still not sure where your motor vehicle infraction falls, you can call the Board of Pardon and Parols for clarification.
I would like to know how long does it take to hear from the board of pardons after submitting your application, and if you don't when can you apply again?
The Board of Pardons will always issue a response to a pardon application prior to the applicant's hearing eligibility date. Please refer to the Pardon Hearing Schedule on the BOPP website and determine when your hearing would be if you were to be granted one. You will receive a response one way or another prior to that date. If you don't then you should contact the BOPP directly to ask about your application status. If you are denied a hearing or are a granted a hearing and denied a pardon, you can re-apply after one year unless the BOPP suggests a longer waiting period. The BOPP web link is: http://www.ct.gov/doc/cwp/view.asp?a=1520&q=317580
I have a friend who has a DUI on his record from a 3 years ago and he states that every job he has applied for has turned him away because they see this on the background check. What can he do to get this taken off his record so this wont become a problem in getting a job.
The only way to have DUI or any other criminal charge removed from a peron's record is to go through the Pardons process and receive a full pardon from the State of Connecticut. To learn how to get started, either contact the State's Board of Pardons and Paroles directly or go to the following web page to send some info to the Connecticut Pardon Team (someone from the Pardon Team will contact you afterward). http://www.connecticutpardonteam.org/connecticut_pardon_team_information_form.htm
My hubby got convicted of a crime in 2000 related to alcohol. It was his first and only criminal charge. He was convicted of a Assault 2 with a motor vehicle. Since, then he has tried to keep steady employment and has not served in any type of community service i.e. volunteer work outside of his court mandated order to do so. I understand that the pardons board looks at community service and volunteer work as a significant factor in terms of how you have changed or improved your life since then....
He became discouraged after hearing that "it would be difficult for him to prove that his life has changed since the accident otherwise". My question is what other factors does the pardon's board look at..What if you have spent the years tryiing to just maintain steady employment and have managed to stay out of any trouble, ended probation on a postive note, have employers, friends, family members who can vouche for the fact that he has managed to change his life around and learned from his mistake...does that not hold any weight?
Sometimes people do not have time to volunteer, or others may just not want to do community service...does that mean they do not deserve to be pardoned? I am not trying to make excuses or justify anything but I firmly believe that other factors should be taken into consideration.... I will be honest with you he does drink occassionally BUT he has never gotten behind the wheel again... His social life has vastly changed he rarely even goes out anymore...We certainly do not want to lie about that and we firmly believe honesty is the best policy here... but I guess my question is how should he say this if asked or how should he write this information in his personal statement....without them frowning upon him....and my second question is what if he decided to start tomorrow.....would it make a difference? or would they still want him to explain the time lapse...?? Signed Overwhelmed....
The Board of Pardon and Paroles rightfully sees the granting of a pardon as an act of of extraordinary grace. They feel that pardons are something people earn vs. something they deserve. While it is admirable for a person to live a law-abiding life after having been convicted of a crime(s), this is not usually enough to earn them a pardon. In those instances where a pardon applicant genuinely does not have enough time to do volunteer/community work, the Board of Pardons will take that under consideration. But in a case where someone simply does not want to do community service - even when they are working and leading a law-abiding life - the Board of Pardons would be hard-pressed to grant them a pardon.
Additionally, when a person has been convicted of an alcohol-related crime but still continues to drink alcohol - even ocassionally - their chances of being granted a pardon are slim-to-none at best.
But all that aside, the best time to start working on a pardon is now. Your husband would need to quit drinking altogether and particpate in some recovery activities. He would need to start doing some form of community service, something he could start right away. Yes, it would make some difference to the Board of Pardons to see some community work, even if it started right when a pardon application is being constructed.
The pardons process is not easy, and it was not meant to be. But we are lucky to have such a progressive process in Connecticut, and your husband would do well to make the changes needed to allow him to take advantage of it.
Thank you for your help. This was extremley insightful. I guess I could see both sides of the matter. He and others thought that by including this positive statement i.e. about him becoming a responsible drinker would be something that the board would look for as a step in a positive direction. But, I guess if you do not know him outside of that one incident you would label him as "someone who had an alcohol issue" and someone who did not learn from that incident and did not obtain "recovery" services. I forget that sometimes people do not know the totality of his character and would initally be going on what is on paper and his charge without anyone having to explain anything otherwise. So, I guess we should also ask others to exculde that piece when talking about him in their letters as well. I also wanted to ask you if it is important or confidental information that he also include the fact that he was seeing at therapist for many years because of his remorse, loss of livelood, and career. Another words... can that come back to haunt him if he were ever to obtain employment in various careers such as civil service... or is that information confidential?? Also, do you have any support groups with others who have been on this emotional rollercoaster of a ride..someone who can also encourage and empower people....through this process...?? Anonymous Overwhelmed...
Do you get the police report from the arresting police station or can you order it from the Dept of Public Safety? My arrest date was 8/17/09 and the application says to include a plice report if the arrest was within 10 years.
Yes, you must get the police report from the arresting station. Be sure to include ALL arrests on your application as well, even if they are older than 10 years. The Pardon application seems to suggest that you won't need the older arrests, but best to engage in absolutely full, open disclosure when dealing with the Pardons Board.
Yes, your boyfriend can provide one of the reference questionnaires. In fact, he should make a very good reference for you. Best of luck in filing your application!
my son was arrested 9/11/2007 and released on 6/27/2008 with robbery in the 3rd, 3 yrs probation. can he get a provisional pardon or would he have to finish his probation? He's been looking for work and he's having trouble finding a job, please help i'm worried about him or at least tell me where can he find at thid=s time.
To the person who's son was arrested 9/11/2007: A person can apply for a Provisional pardon while still on probabtion, but the applicant must have signed approval from their probabtion officer. Please see our web page on Provisional pardons for more information: http://www.connecticutpardonteam.org/provispardon.htm
To the person who asked if they must lost NOLLE charges on their pardon application: Your best course of action is to list everything you have ever been arrested for on your application, even if it did not result in a conviction. From a technical standpoint, you can omit nolled charges and arrests that did not result in a conviction, but it is best to be completely open and honest with the Board of Pardons and Paroles. To do this, you can list crimes you were convicted of on your application, and list arrests with no conviction on a separate self-typed disclosure form. The very best of luck to you.
Please help me understand this! Can you apply for a pardon or expungement if you were never convicted? What must you do to expunge your arrest record? Im going crazy, and loosing hope of ever being able to use my degrees.
An arrest record cannot legally be held against you if it did not result in a conviction. If you were never convicted of a crime, then there is nothing to pardon you for. Arrest records should not show up on background check reports anyway. You should be able to use your college degrees with no problem. You are encouraged to call the Board of Pardons and Paroles to find out how you can verify that you actually do not have a conviction on your record. If employers are using non-conviction arrests agains you, then there is something very wrong here. Start with the Boarad of Pardons and Paroles and see where it takes you.
Any updates on the provisional pardon process and whether the state legislature is still looking at putting some "teeth" into the law? I've written and called a couple representatives in the Hartford area and haven't heard boo. Anybody you know of who's leading the charge? Thanks.
The provisional pardon is still the same, there was no change during this most recent legislative session. There have been discussions about giving the provisional some teeth in the next session. If you would like to be a part of that effort, please contact Jackie Caron of the Connecticut Pardon Team at 1-860-823-1571.
I was granted an administrative pardon at the most recent hearing in new britain. I've heard two different comments about when we will receive our certificate in the mail. One person who picks up the phones at the pardons unit said that we receive our certificates six to eight months after the hearing, and one of the speakers who addressed the court said that we will get our certificates six to eight months from when we apply. That would be about a month from now and make me really happy. What is the real word? Thanks.
First, congratulations on receiving your administrative pardon. Very few of those are ever granted.
Regarding pardon certificates, as a rule they are sent out 6-8 months after pardons are granted. It takes 6-8 months to completely clear up your record, and you receive your certificate only after it is verified that your record is clear. Therefore it is unlikely that your certificate would be sent 6-8 months from the date you applied, since a decision would not have been made immediately upon receiving your application.
Since the decision to grant your pardon was made prior to the hearing, however, it is theoretically possible that you could receive your certificate earlier than 6-8 months from the hearing, but that is solely at the discretion of the Board of Pardons and Paroles and only they can give you that answer. In any event, congratulations, and welcome back to the 'real world' as you say.
Hi, I was convicted of identity theft when I used my sister's ID to get into a club, where I got into a fight, and later it was found that I was not my sister. I was convicted of a felony in January 2003. I having been studying to get into nursing school and was accepted for the fall of this year. I was not aware that such a felony could prohibit me from doing clinicals in school but learned that such might be the case. I completed the packet and handed it in May 15, the review is not until August 15th and hearing at the end of September. Might you know if a provisional pardon will allow me to partake in the clinicals? Thank you.
VA, thanks for the quick reply and the congrats! It feels great that the state gave me a second chance.
For others in the process - I was granted an administrative at the hearing, so don't get discouraged that you didn't get an administrative pardon through the mail. I had no idea I was going to get an administrative pardon. I filled the packet out myself with no involvement from a lawyer. I also have never done any community service (probably should have). It took seven years since being convicted of the two misdemeanors I had coupled along with getting my GED, going to college, serving my country and state overseas and many other life improvements to be granted this great grace.
My son is serving a 120 days sentence for a DWI (alcohol), no bodily injuries involved; unfortunately, the sentence is a felony. His release is in July. Because of the felony charge, he is sure that his professional career is over; as a matter of fact, he is sure that his chances of ever being hired for a decent job is over. When or can he apply for a pardon/expungment with a DWI felony charge? How soon can he fill out the information form to speak to a Connecticut Pardon Team member? Any and all information is appreciated.
To Administrative Pardon recipient: Your encouraging words to others are appeciated. All should know that administrative pardons are the great, great exception to the rule and not to go into the process expecting one. As per community service, rarely does the BOPP grant a pardon without it, and all pardon applicants are STRONGLY encouraged to do as much community service as possible for two reasons; 1) Giving back to one's community a good thing to do and the right thing to do. 2) It goes a long way towards getting a pardon for the great majority of applicants who do receive one.
To the person who was convicted of identity theft: A provisional pardon may help you, but the best way to know for sure is to contact the Board of Pardons & Paroles directly and ask them. Since you were convicted of a crime that is not related to the profession you are going into, your chances of receiving relief from a provisional pardon are better. Again, contact the BOPP directly for verification. Best of luck.
To the person whose son is serving a 120 days sentence for DUI: A person who was convicted of a felony can apply for a full pardon five years after the date they were convicted of the crime. His his chances of ever being hired for a decent job are not ruined, but they will be much more challenging while he is carrying the felony on his record.
The best time for him to start on the pardon process is right away, now. He should perform community service and actively participate in substance abuse counseling and/or attend 12-step meetings. Five years to apply for a pardon may seem like a long time, but that time willgo by one way or another and your son might as well put himself in the best possible position to receive a pardon in the meantime.
Your son is free to contact the Connecticut Pardon Team at any time for help or advice. It's too early to complete his application right now because it will likely change between now and fie years from now. But he can benefit from reading and understand the application and what will be required as far as reference letters.
Your son must not give into despair when things get tough due to his felony charge. I myself was a convicted felon for nearly twelve years before receiving a pardon, and I was gainfully employed in good jobs almost that entire time. That came from refusing to give in or subscribe to the myths that say a felon "can't" get work. It is difficult, but not impossible. Big difference.
Thank you so much for the consoling response; it was a God send! As a mother, I truly appreciate your words of encouragement, and I will convey them to our son on our next visit. I am sure it will make a difference in his outlook when I tell him about your success inspite of the felony conviction. I am hoping he will realize that all is not lost and hopeless.
I filed for a pardon last year, and they denied me a hearing. The reason was that the board did not feel as though enough time has passed since my conviction.They told me to reapply in one year. My conviction was in 1999, and in 1998. I have been crime free since then. I served 5 years in prison, I have competed my parole and probation, I volunteer at the hospital, I have gotten my associates degree in Human Services, and I am about to get my BA in Social Science in May of 2010. I have a 3.4 gpa and I am planning on going to grad school. What do you think my chances are for getting a this time around? Also how many times does the pardon board typically tell someone to reapply?
To the person who was told to reapply in one year and is about to get their BA in social Science, don't give up hope. I can tell you that the Board of Pardons and Paroles looks favorably on that you are going to school and have such a good GPA. When I applied for a pardon I had just finished my first semester and had a 4.0 GPA. They didn't even require me to attend the hearing. I was just granted a pardon. So, I can tell you that you going to school and holding a wonderful GPA is very favorable.I am so proud of you ! I think your chances are wonderful. I enclosed a copy of my college transcripts to show off my grades and show that I am trying. You may want to do the same. It shows your dedication and responsibility. Keep your head up!
Recently, I was granted an absolute pardon, and I just got a moving violation yesterday (seat belt)... Is this going to affect my certificate coming to me in the 6-8 month time frame? I'm just really nervous about anything at this point.
To the person who got a moving violation: A moving traffic violation is not a criminal offense and will not affect the status of your pardon certificate. If you are concerned about the matter, however, be sure to call the Board of Pardons and Paroles and discuss it with them. Congratulationson your pardon.
My husband was recently granted a pardon for a felony conviction from over 10 years ago. He is considering a switch of career to the criminal justice field. Can be be a police officer or a parole officer with his pardon? Can he apply for a firearm permit? How is he limited even though he was granted the pardon? Thank you.
I just got my letter from the pardon and i was told to reapply within a year.,But they never gave me a reason why i got denied is that how they do things are they just forgot to put my reasons why they denied me for a pardon.
my son was convicted of Negligent homicide. He has asked me to write a in order for him to apply for a pardon. Do I write what he went through about the accident? Can you help me. ? where do I begin ? what should be included ? Thankyou for you time.
ok I am honestly as scared of applying for the pardon as I was of being convicted. I was arrested and charged in april 2003 but not convicted unitl 2005 with an extrememly public trial due to my professional status in the community. I have spoken with two attornies one of whom stated that due to that profession etc. I was waisting my time and the other told me that I had absolutely nothing to loose except the possibility of it becoming public info and being on the front of the newspapers again etc. after I have already established myself in a new career( the publicity would definitely derail it). Are applicants names made public and does the fact that I was a public official genuinely imply that I would not be considered.
To the Former public official: There is no harm in applying for a pardon, and it is impossible to receive a pardon without applying for one.
While pardon applicant's names are not posted anywhere where the public can see them, it is theoretically possible for an individual to obtain applicant's names via FOI or via the BOPP. You would be best off contacting the BOPP directly for this information at one of the following numbers: (203) 805-6605, 800) 303-2884.
The actual pardons hearings are open to the public, but with so many applicants and so little space in the hearing rooms, there are usually only pardon applicants in attendance during the hearings.
As per your chances of receiving a pardon, they are most simply stated in these terms: Your chances are 0% if you don't apply, and above 0% if you do. Much is dependent on the severity of your charges, your level of post-conviction community work, and other factors related to your post-conviction activities. Much of this information is available on the CT Pardon Team's website.
Hi, I am awaiting my letter from the board of paroles to see if they are granting me a hearing or not. I was just called by the victim (who is now quite close to me) and was told that she was contacted to by the CT Board of Pardons and Paroles to see if she would be okay with them granting me a pardon--to which she said YES!! Is this typically part of the process before they issue hearings? Does this look good for me that I might get a hearing? As well, I have contacted all of my references to see if they were contacted and they haven't been as of yet. Do they normally contact references before they send a letter for the hearing? Thanks so much.
To the person waiting to find out if they're getting a hearing: It standard operating procedure for the CT Board of Pardons and Paroles to check with the victim and with the DA to see if there are any objections to an applicant receiving a pardon. It is of course a good sign when neither party objects. Sometimes references are contacted during the process and sometimes not. That is at the discretion of the BOPP. Waiting for news is always the hard part. It is impossible to know what will happen until you hear from the BOPP, it sounds like you're off to a good start. The very best of luck to you.
Hello - One can never tell if not hearing back from the Pardons Board after submittal of an application is a good sign or a bad sign. Some applications are so good that they don't require a lot of follow-up from the Board. Other applications can be so obviously negative they similarly can be rejected without follow-up from the Board. We've seen it go both ways, so best to be optimistic while awaiting a response. The very best of luck to you on your application!
Hi, I am the person that asked about not hearing from the pardon board. My question basically is, will they respond to me either way? Will I know if it was rejected by them submitting it to me in writing, or will they let me know if I was granted a hearing.
Hello - Yes, you will receive a written response from the Board of Pardons no matter what their decision is. At this stage in the process, you will receive one of the following from the Board of Pardons: 1) A letter that you have been granted a hearing. 2) A letter that you have been denied a hearing and why. 3) A letter that you have received a Provisional pardon (which is not the same as full/unconditional pardon - see our website for more details).
But again, you will receive something back from the Board of Pardons in all cases.
Hello, I have steps 1 and now the problem is with the adult probation office i can never get a live person to get a record of my probation period what can i do this is very hard for me for now i live in another state and i just cant go to the office advice please thank you
I have a friend who got out of jail last year in sept. He has felony charges for selling drugs. he has no probation or parole. He speaks little english. he got a misdemeanor charge. he found a cell phone and was going to return it to the lady and she was in agreement with given 20 - 30 dollars for the phone and she called the cops when he went to return it to her. Will he be able to able to apply for a pardon?
To the person who is having trouble contacting the adult probation office: You might consider hiring a lawyer just to complete that one specific task. Though it may be a little expensive, it is mandatory that you get this paperwork from the Probabtion office, and unfortunately the onus is on you to do that. You can might also consider making a special trip to the office, even if it is difficult to get there. You only have to do this step once, and it might be worth a pardon to you, so no matter how difficult it is, the cost of your not finding a way is giving up a chance for a pardon. You can also see if a free legal aid office can handle this task for you. The very best of luck to you, and don't give up!
To the person who has a friend who got out of jail last year in sept: A person can apply for a pardon five years after the date of their last felony conviction, provided there were no other criminal charges (even misdemeanors) in that 5 year period. If a person only has misdeameanor charges, they can apply for a pardon 3 years after their last conviction.
To the person was was convicted in January 2009 of a felony and received 3yrs probation no jail time: You can apply for a pardon 5 years after the date of your last conviction. If your last conviction was in January 2009, you will be eligible to apply in January 2014. The best time to get started is now. You can do all sorts of volunteer work and other things to better yourself in that period, which will make you a better candidate for a pardon when the time comes. The very best of luck to you.
My husband was granted a pardon after the February hearing. We are still waiting for his certificate. Is this the normal wait time? Can anyone tell me how long they waited after receiving initial notice in the mail?
Be careful with contacting Board of Pardons with questions as can be given wrong answer that just delays & postpones getting approved for certificate! Was approved-then rescinded due to motor vehicle charges not listed due to being misinformed from contact with Waterbury office! Paperwork isn't perfect-things needed to be clearly stated-but by not doing so-gives reason for denial!! Numerous calls-either no call back or when person knowing about my case answers-i just get delayed for hearing longer if that is truth or what i'm being told for time being! If anyone knows another source to contact reguarding problem-please let me know as want to resolve issue & continue forward but up against brick wall at present time!! Thank You!!
To the person whose husband was granted a pardon after the February hearing: The standard waiting time to receive the Pardon certificate is about 9 months, so your husband should expect his around the November timeframe. The Pardons Board has to make sure all records are cleared at that State and Federal levels, so the process is a lengthy one. Your husband is just about there, though, so congratulations and hang in there!
To the person who stated "Be careful with contacting Board of Pardons with questions": The very best way to handle any past violations or arrests is to list them in your Pardon application, even if the paperwork hasn't come through yet. The Pardons Board will appreciate the up-front information, and there will be no surprises at a later date. Even though parts of the Pardon application may suggest that some charges may be excluded (Motor Vehicle charges, charges for which you were not convicted, etc.), it is ALWAYS best to list every arrest or conviction you can think of and include it in your application, regardless of what the underlying paperwork says or where it might be. Best of luck in getting your situation straightened out.
once again -wrong info given from BOP-now waiting for possible hearing so i've been told! are any other sources available to try & help get matters resolved or just politics & long waiting period in hopes of resolution? thanks!!
To "once again -wrong info given": While it is always frustrating to go through a State agency on something as complicated as the Pardons process, it is important to be greatful that the Pardons process is available at all. Most states are nowhere near as progressive as Connecticut is in regard to Pardons, and some states don't offer a pardons process at all. The BOP is under-staffed and under-funded and they do the best they can with what they have. Unless you are able to afford an attorney to address your pardon-related issues for you, the BOP is going to be your sole source of information and support. Try to be as patient and understanding as you can when working with the BOP, and the very best of luck to you on your Pardons application.
My husband was arrested for his third DUI in October of 2004 and served 5 months in jail. He was employed with the same company for 30 years and with this recession, he was laid off this past December. He has been trying to find work for the past year, but with this charge on his application, his has hit a wall. Don't forgot he has no driver's license which doesn't help. He does not do any community service, but does attend AAA meeting. He has no job and no license. He wants to get this off his record, so he has a better change of obtaining a job. What is his next step?
Ok, I put application in for May 15 of this year. The pardon board had to hearing dates and two review dates for the May 15 deadline. I have not heard anything from them. Both deadlines have gone by. I called them and they told me that they have my application and that the application was filled out and filed correctly, my question is, "Is this a common occurance?. They informed me that it may have to be pushed back to the next review date and hearing date.
I was informed by a lawyer that a full pardon does not actually clear up your record. He said that a pardon is like the system forgiving you for what you have done. He also said that when a pardon is granted that agencies like the credit bureau and some other agencies have the information about your conviction, so that means that the information about the conviction can still be seen. I want to know is this true or not!
What if you cannot remember exactly what happened in some of the convictions? They want you to write the details of what happened and why but I just don't remember.
To "husband was arrested for his third DUI in October of 2004": The only way for your husband to have the charges removed from his record is to apply for a pardon. If he does not do community service now, then he should start as soon as possible. It would help his chances for a pardon, which is the only way to clear his record.
To "I put application in for May 15 of this year": The Board of Pardon & Parole is an underfunded and overburdened agency, so it's not surprising to hear of delays in processing applications. It's impossible to know how often such delays are incurred, but just stay on it and keep working toward a pardon. We are lucky to have such a progessive and accessible Pardons process in Connecticut, whereas some states don't offer pardons at all. The very best of luck to you.
To "I was informed by a lawyer that a full pardon does not actually clear up your record": This is absolutely false. A full pardon completely clears your record. No agencies have access to your criminal record afterward because no such criminal record would exist.
To "We are suppose to give back to the community": Yes, being a little league coach counts. Just do your very best to give back to the community with the available you have and you will improve your chances of getting a pardon.
To "What if you cannot remember exactly what happened in some of the convictions?" Write what you can remember, but keep it brief anyway. It's better to concentrate on the good things you've done since your convictions than it is to dwell on the details of your past crime(s) anyway.
To "When do you need to turn in the packet for the next pardons board review?" Please refer to the Scheduled Pardons Hearings" table on this website:http://www.ct.gov/doc/cwp/view.asp?a=1520&q=317580
To "i was sentenced to 2 probation 2 years suspended in february 2004": Your eligibility to apply for a pardon depends on whether you were convicted of misdemeanor(s) or felony(s). For a misdemeanor it is 3 years after the date of your last conviction. For a felony it is 5 years after the date of your last conviction. It appears that in either case you are eligible to apply now. If your last conviction date was February 2004, then you would be eligible to apply in February 2009 at the latest. Please contact the CT Pardon Team for more info if you need it http://www.connecticutpardonteam.org/contactus.htm
To "I have gotten a letter granting me hearing": You want to be prepared for the question "Why are you a good candidate to receive a pardon?". You want to respond with an honest & brief summary of the positive changes you have made in your your life and the lives of others since your criminal convictions. Talk about how you have "earned" a pardon, and not why you "deserve" a pardon. Talk about your community service, and if you have had substance abuse problems, what you have done and are doing to maintain your sobriety. If you are going to school or bettering yourself in any way, be sure to mention it. The very best of luck to you in your hearing.
I was wondering if I could still be eligible for a pardon, it's been 10 yrs since my last arrest , all charges I ever had were misdemeanors, but I moved out of ct a couple months ago.
To "I was wondering if I could still be eligible for a pardon": Yes, you may still apply for a pardon while living out of state. There are steps to the process that would require your returning to Connecticut, however, like obtaining your police records, getting fingerprints for submission with your application, and attending a Pardon Hearing if you are granted one.
I sent in my pardon application for the May 15th hearing, I have heard nothing from them, nothing at all. Not a letter granting me a hearing or a letter denying me. Has this happened before? I am kind of puzzled! Two or three hearing dates have gone by and nothing, can you tell me what is going on.
To "I sent in my pardon application for the May 15th hearing": Since the May 15th hearing date has passed, you should call the Board of Pardons & Paroles to verify that they received your application. Applications are now being processed on a first-come first-serve basis, and are no longer being processed toward specifica hearing dates. This is a new way of doing things for the BOPP, and as such your application may still be in the pipeline awaiting processing. Call the Pardons Unit at (203) 805-6643 for more information.
I am the young man that was waiting on a reply from the BOPP. I finally got an answer. They granted me a provisional pardon. I am happy, but I would have liked to received a full pardon. My question is what does a provisional pardon do? How does it help me out? Will employers still not hire me because of my record? Please inform me. Is a provisional pardon a usual step they make people take before they grant a full pardon?
To: "I am the young man that was waiting on a reply from the BOPP": A Provisional pPardon is a letter from the State that can help allow you to get work in a field that you were previously barred from due to a criminal record. A Provisional pardon does not erase your criminal charges, so employers can still see your record. While you are better off with the Provisional than you were before, you will still need to gain a full pardon to have your criminal charges expunged. It is not unusual for the BOPP to grant a Provisional prior to granting a full pardon, so it is a reason for optimism and for re-applying for a full pardon next year. You should keep up your good work and give the BOPP good reasons to grant you a full pardon when you reapply.
I received my letter that i was granted a pardon at the most recent hearing in Bridgeport. I just want to thank the ct pardon team for this blog becuase i used the questions and answers to help me while filling out my own application as well as give me the confidence to go about doing it on my own without a lawyer. Thank you.
i have recieved my letter for a full hearing at the dec 16th hearing, my question is, if i am granted a pardon, i see it takes up to 8 months to get the certificate stating that fact, does that mean i cant apply for my gun permit until i get that certificate? i work as a security guard in florida and would like to get my armed security license
To "i have recieved my letter for a full hearing at the dec 16th hearing": The absolute fastest way to get denied for a pardon is specify obtaining a firearms permit as one of your reasons for wanting a pardon. While it is essential that you are completely honest with the Board of Pardons and Paroles during your hearing, you will definitely want to stress your other reasons for wanting a pardon, along with the types of things you have done to earn a pardon. To answer your initial question: Until the approx. 8 months has passed and you have received your pardon certificate - assuming your pardon is granted - you cannot state that you have been pardoned or otherwise legally benefit in any way from having been granted your pardon. You must have your pardon certificate before you can state you have been pardoned.
how can a person get a copy of the victims letter to the board and a copy of the states attorney letter to the board saying they are not in favor of the pardon, as i understand it, these are public records and ty for this blog so helpful.
To "how can a person get a copy of the victims letter": Your best bet is to call the Board of Pardons and Paroles and ask them for guidance. The BOPP would know the paper trail better than anyone else. Since by law you are entitled to know why you were denied a pardon - if that's what happened - then perhaps it is your right to know the contents or the nature of the letters you refer to. Best of luck, and please re-post to this blog once you have your answer.
177 comments:
This is an open forum provided by the Connecticut Pardon Team to exchange thoughts and ideas related to the process of expunging criminal records through the pardons process.
H O W L O N G I S L O N G E N O U G H ?
______________________________________________________________________
For any man or woman convicted of a crime, successfully completing their sentence, along with any assigned parole or probation, is just the beginning. After their release from confinement, they are faced with re-integrating themselves back into their community – often in the same area and with the same influences that provided them opportunity to break the law in the first place.
Their search for employment is often stonewalled by the fact that they now have a conviction on their record. Employers performing a routine search find the negative information, and unless they are part of a progressive federal or state program, or willing to give the applicant a second chance, the applicant is put at the bottom of the list of candidates – if they remain on the list at all.
The goal of improving their own economic status and fighting the impulse to return to their former ways is complicated further by the fact that even advanced education – like a master’s degree – is often not enough to convince a potential employer to give them another chance.
Apartment leases, home mortgages, opening a bank account or a credit card, and many other processes that non-offenders take for granted are often closed to these individuals. This situation continues for as long as the conviction stays on their record, and with the advent of computers, the information is even easier to find.
How long is long enough for a person convicted of a crime, who has successfully completed their parole and / or probation, to continue to pat for that crime? The Connecticut Pardon Team was founded in 2004 to provide tools and information for individuals convicted of a crime who are interested in clearing their record through the non-inmate pardon within our state through our Pardon Assistance Program.
People with past records are lucky to live in Connecticut, since it has a very progressive pardons process. In many states the only way to obtain a pardon is through the Governor's office, while other states have no pardons process at all. There is also free help with the process through the Connecticut Pardon Team. For those who wish to move forward in life, count your blessings and get started.
Thank you to the Connecticut Pardon Team for the great Pig Roast at Mohegan Park on July 19th. It was nice to hear the stories of those who had filed their pardon applications, and how those pardons changed their lives for the better.
Last week I recieved my letter that I was granted a hearing! words cannot express the gratitude I have for the members of the Connecticut Pardon Team. They are really out there to help people move forward.
Thank you
Joe P
Great Work from the Connecticut Pardon and all of the staff.Thanks for restoring those who have made a mistake in life and allowing them forward and take there rightful place in society.
I have a question.
I was convicted for a misdimeanor class C back in 2004. I wanted to start the process of Charges Expungement but I see that the next hearing date I can apply for is next year.
I was planning on going back to my country on vacation (I haven't left the US since that case affraid of being barred when I try to come back, but I NEED to go on December).
If I apply for a hearing, is it possible to postpone it in case it is granted?
What happens if I am not allowed to come back ( I am in legal status with a work visa but those criminal charges have been chasing me for the last almost 5 years and my life will never be the same)?
The gentleman who wrote asking the question, with a misdimeanor class C back in 2004, needs to call the CPT office Monday about noon time.
860 823 1571
Rich
I sent my pardon application in before the last deadline. I have yet to receive a letter in the mail informing me of a Nov/Dec hearing date or a letter telling me to apply again later. None of the five references that were kind enough to write something on my behalf have been contacted either. Should I be concerned or is this typical? Thanks.
Dear Sent Application,
you should call the St of CT Pardons and Parole Board. They can tell you what your status is. Their # is 203-805-6643 Hit "0" to speak to a real breathing person. Ask for Doug, Sal or Rasa one of them should be able to assist you:)
I received a letter stating I was not granted a hearing and would be told why in a couple of weeks. I sent in all my orginal papers, letters etc. Do I have to get all new original papers again or can I submit coppies of the originals next time I apply? How soon should I send in my application again? Thanks you guys have been a great help so far.
No, as long as you have copies and don't catch another case you can use the same paperwork. The BOP will send you a letter stating why you were denied and a period of time you have to wait before you can apply again. You can always re-apply. However, it is always at the discretion of the Ct Board of Pardons and Parole.
why do lawyers charge so much for pardons when they know people can do it themselves for free?
I have six arrests on my record 3 convictions,misdeameanors do I list them all on my app.
I don't know the method of how or why lawyers charge. It is a Business. Some people prefer a lawyer. However, having a lawyer to do your package does not increase your chances or give the individual any guarantees. If a Petitioner is granted a full hearing to appear before the BOP tey want to hear from the petitioner.
Yes, you do have to list all your convictions on your application
Thanks so much for getting me in touch with one of the officers over at the pardon board. I guess I'm on the provisional pardon list and should receive a letter next week if they hear nothing from the state's attorney's office or from any of the victims. This sounds like good news, I think... Please keep it in your prayers. My family and I could really use this. This is been hanging over our heads just way too long. Thanks for all your help!!!
Any idea on the next application date?
The next application due date is Nov 15 2008 and the next one is Feb 15, 2009
I was trying to fill the form (Pardon Petition) but I am terrified about asking 3 people who know me to provide references.
One of the worst fears I live with everyday is exactly to think that ANYBODY can find about what I did (even though it was a misdemeanor), especially family and friends.
Any thoughts? How do you face friends or acquaintances with your most terrible secret?
Thank you!
In regard to finding three references for your application, you'd be surprised how understanding people will be about the matter. I had to do this for my own application - which was successful, by the way - but ended up asking five people and all five were glad to help out. Getting the references is a mandatory part of the process, so your best bet is to pick the people you trust the most and just go for it. Your true friends will never abandon you or reveal your personal information to those who shouldn't have it. Everyone who has ever gotten a pardon has had to get these references, so while it can be an awkward process, I've never heard of even a single example where someone refused to help out. Best of luck to you!
Thanks for your words of encouragement.
I wish I still had that level of trust in people. I have been so dissapointed with people in the last couple of years and at this point I can't say I have one single friend I could trust with this secret that has kept me locked in my shell and with anti-depression medications.
I don't know what else to do. Everything seems to get harder and harder. I wish I could just wake up from this nightmare or just stay asleep.
My friend, I completely understand your distrust of people. It is, unfortunately, warranted 99.9% of the time. But here it is, bottom line: You have a choice. You can either take the very short term risks of asking for three letters of reference, or you can spend the rest of your life living in fear with a criminal record. So in the very unlikely occurence that someone says no or betrays your confidence, so what? With just misdemeanors on your record, there is an excellent chance of a pardon waiting on the other end. Like a very good friend of mine always says, you have nothing to lose but a criminal record. Go for it.
I was charged with a misdemeanor (shop lifting). I paid a fee and wasn't finger printed.
I am planning on traveling abroad.
Will I have any trouble when coming back?
I am not a US citizen.
Thank you.
If you were arrested for shoplifting, and not fingerprinted. to be safe I would contact the Department of Public Saftey and pay $25.00 to recieve my conviction record. If you have a conviction before your trip abroad. I suggest you look into appling for a waiver so you can travel since you are not a US citizen. You might want to contact an Immigration Atty.
I was granted a pardon hearing for the November date. I have just noticed the website indicated that it is on November 17th in Bridgeport but my letter states November 19th in Waterbury. I hope someone repsonds to this post quickly so that if it is Monday I do not miss it.
Also...is there any last minute pointers anyone is willing to share to help me present my case to the Board?
To JLA5151:
The info on your letter that states your hearing is November 19th in Waterbury is correct, so you can disregard what the website says.
As per tips for your hearing, dress respectfully, speak respectfully, be honest with the Board of Pardons & Paroles, own up to your charges and show that you are sorry for them, be prepared to say why you deserve a pardon, and be ready to discuss any volunteer and/or community work you have performed and how you have helped other people.
The Board of Pardons & Paroles does not want to deny pardon applications, but sometimes petitioners behave so inappropriately during their hearings that the BOPP has no choice but to issue a denial. If you are truly ready, you will do well.
The very best of luck to you at your hearing.
I've received a letter stating that my application for a pardon was heard by a pre-screening panel and that I've been denied an absolute pardon. It also says that my application is being reviewed for provisional pardon consideration. Do they grant provisional pardons without one having to attend a hearing? I thought for sure that I'd have to attend today's session in Bridgeport.
To the person with the question about provisional pardons: In almost all cases, it is necessary to attend a hearing to obtain a pardon, whether it be provisional or absolute. Per the DOC website, the next provisional pardon hearing is scheduled for Dec. 12, 2008 in Waterbury. If you are granted a hearing, you will be notified as such in writing prior to Dec. 12th by the Board of Pardons and Paroles.
I was granted an administrative Pardon on Nov.17th .Although I completed the application myself,I could not have done it without the information on the CT Pardon Team website and a couple of phone calls to their office.They pointed me the right direction,and that led to getting a Pardon without even getting in front of the Pardon Board! On Nov. 16th I was a convicted felon,on Nov. 17th,I'm a free man.
At my pardon hearing today, i stating why i feel i deserve a pardon using while being remorsful and apologetic. I stated what I have done with my life and how a pardon will help my moving forward. They asked if I have use AA before, which i have, and then the reason, which i shared. I was honest and didnt hide anything. Then they dismissed me.....i kinda felt like I was just turn down by the girl at the end of the bar...is it normal for them to onyl ask one or two questions then dimiss you or did i most likly not please the board?
To jla5151: It is not altogether unusual to recieve only a few questions from the Board. They only asked me a few questions and I was granted my pardon. There are many other factors, such as the nature of your conviction(s) and how long ago they were. From what I saw, the more questions the board asked, the less favorable it appeared for the applicant. Bu at this point, just hope for the best, and we'll all be thnking good thoughts for you.
thank you. maybe i can sleep with a little more ease the next two weeks. i was more nervous after i spoke with the board then when i was in front of them. I appreciate all the help I have recieved from this site....there is a lot of info and resources here for anyone looking to recieve a pardon. Best of luck to any one applying and thank you for all your support
I had my application post marked by the 15th of November, how long does it usually take to hear back if you are granted a hearing?
To the person who asked how long after Nov 15th it might take to hear about a hearing: In the past, you'd know about getting a hearing about a month before the actual hearing date. So, since your November 15, 2008 application submission would be for a hearing (approx.) Feb 25th or March 25th 2009, you would probably hear back from the Board of Pardons & Paroles around the beginning of February or March, 2009.
Could you further explain what a provisional pardon means? I guess I don't have a full grasp on it. Also, if the provisional hearings are on Dec 13th, how soon should I be receiving a letter?
Thank U
Regarding Provisional Pardons: A Provisional pardon, unlike an Expungement (or Absolute) pardon, does not suppress or erase the petitioner's criminal history. Instead, when a Provisional pardon is granted, the Board of Pardons & Paroles generates a letter on behalf of the petitioner regarding their fitness to work in particular profession(s), some of which might require licensure. This letter would be intended to help the petitioner to secure a professional license or gain employment where they might not have been able to do so otherwise due to their past criminal convictions.
There are instances where a Provisional pardon would not be appropriate and would not likely be granted, such as when a petitioner has drug-related convictions and they want to apply for a nursing license with medication-dispensing duties.
Have a Provisional pardon does not preclude a petitioner from applying for a full Expungement pardon at a future date.
So, a provisional pardon does not seal your record at all for work purposes? Can prospective employers can still use your record to deny employment with a provisional pardon? I'm just curious how having a letter helps anybody. I already have numerous reference letters from previous employers, etc. that I utilize for work purposes. I am a white collar professional that deals with the public and have been denied many times over for positions that I'm well qualified for because of my background. I am not exaggerating when I state that each time I've been unemployed, which has been 5 times over the last 10 years through no fault of my own, I've had to go through 30+ interviews before I get someone sympathetic enough to look over the background issues, due to my line of work. Based upon your description of a provisional pardon, if granted, I'd just have one more letter to add to the bunch I already supply. Can a prospective employer still deny me employment based on my record if I have been granted a provisional pardon?
That is a good question, if a prospective employer can still deny a provisional pardon holder based on their background. I'll have to verify that, but I would think that they could. And the reality of the situation is that an employer could simply devise another reason if they feared any risk of denying you based on your background.
But even though a provisional pardon wouldn't provide total relief from background-related denials, don't be too quick to dismiss it. Having a provisional pardon would certainly do you no harm, and could actually make a difference with an employer who needs just that much additional comfort level prior to making a hiring decision.
Also, obtaining a provisional is a good stepping stone to the next level of obtaining a full expungement pardon, i.e. show the Board of Pardons that you've gone through the steps of obtaining the provisional and have lived productively since, and it would likely reflect favorably in your next application for a full pardon.
As an aside, I too am a white collar professional, and until recently lived with the same horrid job-seeking experiences you've lived with. I got denied for a full pardon the first time around, had to wait two years to re-apply, but was granted the full pardon on my second try. The eligibility requirements were much tougher at first too, i.e. applicants had to wait for five years after their probation or parole was fully served to apply, not just five years after their conviction like now. This meant I had to wait a full ten years after my convictions even to apply the first time around, and another two years after an initial denial to re-apply. But as tough as it was to deal with, the time went by, I did what I needed to do, and now the nightmare is over.
I mention all this to you in hopes that you will go forward and never give up. As a very good friend of mine always says, "You have nothing to lose but a criminal record." The very best of luck to you.
I just wanted to reach out to you and say thank you for your help Rich. I found out today in the mail that I was issued a provisional pardon for work purposes and should be receiving a certificate in the mail in the next few weeks. FYI... I did not have to attend a hearing either. I do not know exactly what that means, but I suppose it's a start. How soon can I apply for an absolute pardon, or should I just be patient and wait for the certificate? Thank you, thank you, thank you... May God bless you for your good work!!!
Dear Reach out,
That's great that you recieved a Provisional Pardon. It's a start on the right track. Because the Provisional Pardon is fairly new, i am going to direct you to call the Board of Pardons at 203-805-6643 hit 0 to speak to someone breathing and ask fro Sal, Doug or Rasa about the time frame when you can apply. Then call the office at 823.1571 so we can discuss this in detail. Again Good luck you are on your way!!!!
No more discrimination in the city of Norwich! That is great news that finally everyone will be on equal ground when applying for a city job. I hope local venders, business and THE STATE picks this one up. I am looking forward to more towns in CT passing the same ordinance.
After a denial letter for pardon.. How long an aplicant must wait to apply for a provisional pardon.
A person may submit a pardon application once every calendar year, regardless of the type of pardon being applied for. The most current pardon application allows a person to apply for a Provisional pardon and a Full/Absolute pardon at the same time. The application assumes you are appying for a Full/Pardon, but there is a box that asks if you also want to be considered for a Provisional pardon. Be sure to check 'Yes' on that box, as there is no cost to doing so. If you have additional questions, please feel free to post them here and/or to call the Board of Pardons and Paroles directly.
So, if I've been granted a provisional pardon this year I could apply for an absolute pardon next year? Do I have to recomplete all the paperwork all over again, including new references? How does that work?
Yes, if you've been granted a provisional pardon this year, you can apply for an absolute pardon next year. You do have to fill out a new application form to make sure you submit current information, but you can use your hit sheets from your prior application. You can use your original reference letters, but it is advisable to have your references sign and date them again to show that the letters are still current. You would also want to update your personal statement to show any new accomplishments you have had. Best of luck to you.
I had a hearing on Nov 15 and still have not heard word on whether or not I will recieve a pardon. Should I call the Board? I know they said it may take about 2 weeks, but its been a month. I gave a little long giving the holiday and what not.
The Connecticut board of pardons is a waste of time.. Two times I have applied and two times denial.. It brings false hope! It seems that the most common excuse is "insufficient time" but my charges were misdemeanors in 2004.. the whole operation is questionable.. My denial letter does not even have board members signatures.. its like if the prescreening never even took place... something must be done with their system of operation.. oh.. the fist denial letter is a waste of paper.. they should mail out the official letter a few weeks after the hearing.. Pre-screening does not work.. it does not give the applicant full opportunity of a formal hearing.. its like lotto and its room for discrimination!!! I am fed up!!! Going for a third year….
PS: If they send out one letter of denial instead of two: i beleave it can save them money on “paper” and hire another human to send out the official denial letter in a timely manor. Think smart not stupid!!
To jla5151: If you feel you should have a response from the Board of Pardons & Paroles by now, then by all means call and ask. They may be backed up due to high volumes of pardon applications, but no harm in asking.
To the person who feels “the Connecticut board of pardons is a waste of time”: While it is painful to receive one or more denials, the next time you apply it will be five years since your misdemeanor convictions. The Board will see that you've continued to live an upstanding life since your prior applications, and that you've had the tenacity to keep going and keep trying. The availability of a Pardons process is a great privilege that is not available in most states - and it is a privilege, not a right. The Board does not enjoy or wish to deny applicants, but it is at their discretion to do so. In addition to adding another year of good citizenship to your next application, be sure to look for ways to improve your application – more community service, more letters of reference, have your personal statement critiqued by a trusted party – but don’t give up. The rewards of getting those charges off your record are too great to pass up. The very best of luck to you.
Ok, I'd received a provisional pardon. Due to the nature of my work I often have to be contracted with a number of companies. In most cases that has never been a problem, even before the pardon, but admittedly I have been denied contracting for a few. With provisional pardon in hand I had to get contracted with another company just recently. Even after disclosing my record and noting the receipt of the pardon they have still chosen to deny my request. Anybody who has a license with the State of CT and has a "clean" record should never have a problem being contracted. It doesn't matter the length of time or experience one has, these are granted all the time. What recourse do I have at this point? I even gave them a contact name and number over at the Board. I know nothing is ever easy. I'm used to that. But I thought this would be a solution to the problems I've experienced finding work or with licensing and contracting. Please advise.
To the person who wrote on Dec 19th who'd received a provisional pardon:
To read up on details about provisional pardons that you may not already have, please see the below link:
http://www.connecticutpardonteam.org/provispardon.htm
If you can prove that a prospective employer denied you work based on charges for which you have received a provisional pardon, then you may have some legal recourse. As per what that recourse might be, your best source of that information would be the Board of Pardons and Paroles itself.
While a provisional pardon is helpful in removing some of the barriers to securing work, any prospective employer can still run a background check on you and see your past criminal charges, thus at times you can still be subjected to the prejudicial notions of those who do not grasp the concept of full rehabilitation. Short of suing everyone you suspect of such prejudices, your only sure course of action for avoid such discrimination is to apply for and receive a full/expungment pardon.
But please contact the Board of Pardons & Paroles for more information, and you definitely want to apply for a full pardon as soon as you are next eligible.
Best of luck!
I can't be any plainer than a written statment in the form of an email from the employer. I'll call the Board first thing Monday morning.
Thanks.
They've referred me to Greater Hartford Legal Aid.
It seems that I continue to get the run around. The Board of Pardons tells me that only an attorney can tell me what recourse, legal or otherwise, I may have and since GHLA is one of the organizations that helped to write the provisional pardon legislation that would be my best bet. Greater Hartford Legal Aid tells me my wife makes too much (38k) and they can't help me. Obviously a full pardon is what I really need, but where do I turn to for help in the mean time?
Dear Run Around,
Please contact me, Jackie Caron 1-866-251-3810 it is VM. leave me the info to contact you so I can contact you we can discuss your options.
Does a provisional pardon have any effect on a motor vehicle license? I have three DUI's (old) and a permenant license revocation. Would a provisional pardon give me the ability to get a drivers license? Also, the pardon form asks for a copy of a ID. I only have a very old ID. Connectecut does not allow people with a permenant driver license revocation to get a state ID, only does with a temporary suspension. It is real hard living without ID. Can I copy my old expired DL ( 1995 ) onto the application?
I do not know how that would apply to a permenant license revocation. You can contact the CT Board of Pardons and Parole at 1-203-805 6643 and press "0" to speak to a live person and ask to speak to Doug or Sal
After two months of waiting and finally refusing to get off the phone with the Board (who could not locate my file), I received my letter today from my November hearing, the I was denied an absolute pardon but granted a provisional. From what I read it seems that if a company runs a background check on you, they can still see your record and deny you a job cause of it, hence where the provisional pardon prevents them juding you on your record (or is suppose to).
First question- I live in New York, does the provisonal pardon protect me seeing everything is granted to me from the State of Connecticut?
NEXT- The majority of work I do is in retail. My crime is a theft related misdemenor. According to what I see, they can deny me a job if the crime is directly related to the job, wouldn't you find a larceny crime and retail go almost hand and hand? SO my question is, how do I go about appling for a job in retail, even with my provsional pardon, if they can still see my record and relate it to that line or work and deny me a job legitly?
Lastly, how long before i can appling for an absolute pardon and continue wasting my time with the only thing that seems to offer hope. I understand that the Board is a service to help people, and that I have put myself in the situation I am in, BUT all i have gotten from the Board is the run around, a pardon which seems to do me no good (if i am looking at it correctly which I may not be) and a bunch of crap which includes losing records. This site and the people helping are the only thing that have kept my hope up and I allow me to believe that not every government department is run like this one and there is order somewhere. The governor should be made aware of how this system truly operates and fix the kinks that waste so many peoples time including there own.
I have a lawyer that will charge me $2000. I am extremely nervous but have confidence that I could fill out the application by myself. Do most people do this on their own or with the help of a lawyer?
Don't waste your money. I filled it out, got the reference letters, and then had Rich over at the Pardon Team give me some constructive feedback. I then went back and made some amendments and even asked some of my references if they would kindly reword some things. I got as far as a provisional pardon at least. Hope this helps.
Agreed - it is a complicated process, but it is not necessary to hire an attorney. The Pardon Team will help you with your application and much more on top of that. You can save your money and get better services with the Pardon Team.
Is the entire time line from arrest to conviction to completion of probation factored in?
I ask because I have two unspecified misdemeanors (no class a, b, c, etc) I was arrested oct 03', convicted under no contest (I plead out because I was traumatized and terrified) march of 05' and completed my probation sept. 07'
In fairness this makes the actual crime a lot older then just when my sentence was completed.
Also, a provisional pardon does me absolutely no good...I need a pardon to be able to do clinical rotations, this is a huge barrier to my education (but not licensing as a healthcare professional, go figure).
I have a 3.7 GPA so far , but I guess Im not hopeful I'll ever be able to get around this for my education. I can't go to the colleges I want to for the programs I want because my charges are automatically disqualifying ( in case your wondering the disqualifier is a firearms charge with a max sentence of 90 days)
is any of this factored by the board? or do they just look at the dates, stamp it "not enough time" and move on or do they actually look at the whole applicant?
Ive been a volunteer for almost 8 years in emergency services...Im so frustrated, and worried I won't be able to get any further and Im not getting any younger.
the above should be corrected to arrested oct 04, convicted march 06, probation completed sept 07'
I was also on minimal probation if this helps any. I had to check in every 8 weeks
oh and another question...(same person as the timeline question) does it matter WHO the letters of reference are from? I can get letters easily from virtually an entire ambulance corps, fire department and from several officers including the arresting officer
I'm telling you, mines truly a bizarre case
I am going into the criminal justice field and I was thinking about trying to get into law enforcement. I was wondering if I could get my right to bare arms reinstated?
To all,
Everyone's package is different. Each is looked at as a individual. EVERYTHING is factored in to your package even if you had a youthful offense. This is why it is so important to make sure everthing is put down on your application. We here at the Connecticut Pardon Team, Inc have no bearing on the decisions of the Ct Board of Pardons and Parole. What we do is to educate, advocate and assist participants so you will have to tools to put your best package forward. We always encourage people to move forward because time is going to pass you by anyway and the only thing you got to lose is A RECORD. So, don't procrastinate, elevate yourself and move forward. If you need help call us, but realize we are run only on volunteers and no one is paid to do what we do and we servive off of donations. Therefore, wgen we are out doing imformationals about this program and the application process , no one may be in the office and it may take us a minute to get back to you but we will. So if anyone out ther is interested in volunteering or want to donate to our non-profit program. please contact our office via our website or by calling 860-823-1571
Is it normal for one not to receive a pardon certificate 3-4 months after one receives a letter telling you one is forthcoming? I've called numerous times (I feel like I'm annoying them) and have been told it would be issued this date and that date and now I'm told to wait another 2 weeks out due to a backlog. I could really use this now for work purposes and the letter they sent isn't satisfying any employer I provide a copy to. One would think that if a letter could be generated so quickly, that they might as well just include the certificate along with it. Am I missing something here? Does the Governor or Attorney General have to sign off on it or something? Are my expectations just to high?
In CT If you have a record in CT you can vote. At the Capitol in Hartford, session just started and public hearings are about to start and they are there the you the public to speak your piece and ask for change. I would strongly suggest that if you want change, then you need to help make change by going to the hearings and giving testimony on how the process is or is not working. Otherwise things will not change. Sometimes we have to put ourselves on front street to make a point and start change. This is how the Connecticut Pardon Team got it's start. Keep calling, because they get paid to answer your questions by your tax dollars.
Public hearings specifically related to the pardon process? Or general public hearings? Where and when are they being held? I'd be more than happy to stop by if I had details.
What actually happens at a pardon hearing? Are you in front of the board and hundreds of people? Are you up there for a long time? Do they want you to tell the whole story of what happened or do you just answer their questions>
First , you can view the hearings Schedule on the Website. The hearings are in a court room setting. Usually, they are well attended and some people will have lawyers (however you are not required to have one)but most are there with out one. There will be prosecuters and victims ther to give there input on during the hearing. you are called up and asked a few questions. Note: that they have already done a thorough background investigation on you and probabaly know more about you than your own family does. you will not find out if you have a pardon immediatwely. you will wait to hear in a form of a letter that will tell you if you recieved a pardon. If you have recieved one, you will be instructed to wait to recieve an certificate before you can actualyysay that you don't have a record. If you do not recieve a pardon, they will send you a letter staing that and a follow-up letter will be sent to you telling you why you were denied and the next time you can apply. A successful application takes about 16 months. It is not easy,and it shouldn't be. This is an opportunity to start your life over and live it to the fullest---- the Utimate Re-Entry. If you need more info please contect us:)
Hi, I am new to the site. I just wanted to find out from others who have been working on the team or been through the process....
When I am writing my own account of what happened and how I feel my life has changed what points should I focus on? What things should I avoid? Are there any sites or places I can research for various examples of letters?
Also,My goal is that I want this completley taken off of my record "expungement". However, I heard that you should check the provisionary box anyhow so at least your able to obtain something?? Any thoughts on that?
Thanks for your help in advance RG
To RG:
When writing your Personal Statement, be brief, totally honest, and stay focused on the positives in your life since your conviction(s). Talk about your family, your work, what you are doing to better yourself, and your ongoing work in the community. Do not re-live your crimes, but be sure to express remorse for them. Try to keep your statement down to 2-3 pages at the most. There is no particular research base for writing an effective personal statement, and since you want your statement to be sincere and individual, you wouldn't want to draw on other applicant's letters anyway.
It is entirely up to the Board of Pardons & Paroles as to whether you receive a full/expungement pardon, a provisional pardon, or a denial. There is no harm in being considered for a provisional pardon, so you might as well check the box to be considered.
The very best of luck to you, and be sure to stay in contact if you have any additional questions.
Is it okay to include photos of yourself doing community activies with your packet or is this is a no no?
It is completely acceptable to include photos of yourself doing community work. Other pardon applicants have done this before, and it always seems to be received well. The very best of luck to you.
There is a lot of talk about community service. What if you have not done a lot of community service is that something that is held against you? Anonymous
Community service is looked upon very favorably by the Board of Pardons & Paroles. The Board is certainly understanding of limited participation due to legitimate time constraints (i.e. single parent, family members needing care, etc.) but past that, it is best to get involved as soon as possible. Best advice: Start now, do your best, and stay involved even if/when you are granted a pardon.
Is the personal statement in addition to section 13 Purpose of Application or is this where you actually write your personal statement. Also when I am done with my application would the pardon team look over it or do i need to make an appointment?
To the person asking about Section 13 of the Pardon application: Please call the Connecticut Pardon Team Office and someone will help you out. The toll-free number is 1-866-251-3810.
I am currently working om my pardon application. I have 2 charges from 1990 in the state of connecticut.
I also have a federal offense from 1998. I don't see anywhere on the application to fill in a federal offense. Should I put it under other state offenses or leave it off.
Do individuals who've been pardoned, provisional or absolute, ever receive their certificate from the State of CT. I was supposedly granted a provisional pardon back in October, at least that's what the letter they sent me tells me. I've yet to receive anything official. I've called numerous times and I don't want to be perceived as impatient, but I am. I could really use this thing. They'll tell me I'm getting it this week and then two weeks from now and now there's a backlog and we should be getting them done this week and so on and so forth. (I'm not exaggerating here either.) Help, I'm still waiting...
To the person who had a federal offense from 1998: You do NOT want to leave any charges off of your application. Use the 'Other State Offenses' area or submit the information on a separate piece of paper. The Board of Pardon and Paroles needs to know about any and all legal issues you have had, and they can and will deny an application if it has missing information.
To the person who asked if 'ever receive their certificate from the State of CT'. The answer is yes, absolutely. The Board of Pardons and Paroles has finite resources and is extremely busy processing Pardon applications, so it can be a frustrating experience waiting for your certificate. Please continue to call if needed and ask for Doug, Sal, or Rasa. Their # is 203-805-6643 - Hit "0" to speak to speak with someone. If you still haven't received your certificate in a couple of weeks then call the CT Pardon Team office for further assistance.
Hi,
I'm assisting my husband in filling out the expungement request. He is not very trusting of the system and does not want to list one of his current employers due to the fact that he thinks the board may contact them. On his application for the job, he was not asked about any criminal history and the employer did not perform a background check. He is afraid that they will contact his employer and that he will face negative reprocussions like loosing his job or not being eligible for future promotions. I told him that he needed to face his fears and include all information. In addition, I think a reference letter from his current employer would be beneficial toward his request because he has been very successful. He doesn't want to disclose to them any information about his past. Could he include a reference letter regarding his success at work in addition to his resume and educational degrees to show that he is a positive contributor to his employer without it being a letter of reference for pardon purposes? What do you advise?
And thank you so much for providing this service :) You are a God send!
To the person assisting her husband: Do not under any circumstances omit or falisfy any information on a pardon application for any reason ever. Doing so would not only be an invitation for a denial of the pardon application, it would also be illegal and just plain wrong. A pardon applicant must be willing to take some risks when applying for a pardon. The Board of Pardons and Paroles can and probably will verify a pardon applicant's employment without directly contacting their employer anyway. Your husband will also be required to submit three letters of reference wherein the references must acknowledge awareness of the petitioner's past crimes. It is not necessary to ask one's employer for a letter of reference, it is just a nice-to-have. Any positive letters of reference or any documentation showing positive accomplishments should be included. Your husband needs to be fully engaged in completing his pardon application, especially when writing his personal statement. Best of luck, and please contact the Board of Pardons and Parole of the Connecticut Pardon Team with any additonal questions.
Thank you for your advice. I told my husband that he either had to take the risk and apply for the pardon, omitting nothing, or not apply for it at all. He has been eligible to apply for some time, but his fears have always kept him back. It bothers me that although he has paid his debt to society and is a wonderful upstanding citizen that he is afraid of his past haunting him... especially when it comes to employment. He has been turned down from many jobs due to his record even though he is more than qualified for the position. I keep telling him that he has nothing to fear but fear itself, but perhaps if he would go to the Connecticut Pardon Team and see the people who have been granted pardons, then he could believe in the system again and not feel that he would have to pay for his mistake forever. Thank you for the work that you do. I'm sure he'll be visiting you soon!
And you may want to mention this to your husband: He can live with the short-term fear associated with applying for a pardon or he can live with the fear of having his past discovered for the rest of his life. He can contact the Board of Pardons and Paroles when he submits his application and specifically ask that they not directly contact his employer. The Board is understanding of the sensistive nature of the situation. Best of luck going FORWARD!
If i have a motor vehicle infraction and it was within the last 10 years would i have a police report? do i need to report this on my application?
That depends on what type of motor vehicle infraction. For a simple lane-change violation, you would not have to report it as a criminal violation on your pardon application. For a DUI or some other more serious infraction involving a motor vehicle, you would have to report the violation on your application. If you are still not sure where your motor vehicle infraction falls, you can call the Board of Pardon and Parols for clarification.
Thank you. The motor vehicle infraction was due to driving with an expired registration.
I would like to know how long does it take to hear from the board of pardons after submitting your application, and if you don't when can you apply again?
The Board of Pardons will always issue a response to a pardon application prior to the applicant's hearing eligibility date. Please refer to the Pardon Hearing Schedule on the BOPP website and determine when your hearing would be if you were to be granted one. You will receive a response one way or another prior to that date. If you don't then you should contact the BOPP directly to ask about your application status. If you are denied a hearing or are a granted a hearing and denied a pardon, you can re-apply after one year unless the BOPP suggests a longer waiting period. The BOPP web link is: http://www.ct.gov/doc/cwp/view.asp?a=1520&q=317580
I have a friend who has a DUI on his record from a 3 years ago and he states that every job he has applied for has turned him away because they see this on the background check. What can he do to get this taken off his record so this wont become a problem in getting a job.
The only way to have DUI or any other criminal charge removed from a peron's record is to go through the Pardons process and receive a full pardon from the State of Connecticut. To learn how to get started, either contact the State's Board of Pardons and Paroles directly or go to the following web page to send some info to the Connecticut Pardon Team (someone from the Pardon Team will contact you afterward). http://www.connecticutpardonteam.org/connecticut_pardon_team_information_form.htm
Hi, Completely overwhelemed....
My hubby got convicted of a crime in 2000 related to alcohol. It was his first and only criminal charge. He was convicted of a Assault 2 with a motor vehicle. Since, then he has tried to keep steady employment and has not served in any type of community service i.e. volunteer work outside of his court mandated order to do so. I understand that the pardons board looks at community service and volunteer work as a significant factor in terms of how you have changed or improved your life since then....
He became discouraged after hearing that "it would be difficult for him to prove that his life has changed since the accident otherwise".
My question is what other factors does the pardon's board look at..What if you have spent the years tryiing to just maintain steady employment and have managed to stay out of any trouble, ended probation on a postive note, have employers, friends, family members who can vouche for the fact that he has managed to change his life around and learned from his mistake...does that not hold any weight?
Sometimes people do not have time to volunteer, or others may just not want to do community service...does that mean they do not deserve to be pardoned? I am not trying to make excuses or justify anything but I firmly believe that other factors should be taken into consideration.... I will be honest with you he does drink occassionally BUT he has never gotten behind the wheel again... His social life has vastly changed he rarely even goes out anymore...We certainly do not want to lie about that and we firmly believe honesty is the best policy here... but I guess my question is how should he say this if asked or how should he write this information in his personal statement....without them frowning upon him....and my second question is what if he decided to start tomorrow.....would it make a difference? or would they still want him to explain the time lapse...?? Signed Overwhelmed....
To "Completely Overwhelmed":
The Board of Pardon and Paroles rightfully sees the granting of a pardon as an act of of extraordinary grace. They feel that pardons are something people earn vs. something they deserve. While it is admirable for a person to live a law-abiding life after having been convicted of a crime(s), this is not usually enough to earn them a pardon. In those instances where a pardon applicant genuinely does not have enough time to do volunteer/community work, the Board of Pardons will take that under consideration. But in a case where someone simply does not want to do community service - even when they are working and leading a law-abiding life - the Board of Pardons would be hard-pressed to grant them a pardon.
Additionally, when a person has been convicted of an alcohol-related crime but still continues to drink alcohol - even ocassionally - their chances of being granted a pardon are slim-to-none at best.
But all that aside, the best time to start working on a pardon is now. Your husband would need to quit drinking altogether and particpate in some recovery activities. He would need to start doing some form of community service, something he could start right away. Yes, it would make some difference to the Board of Pardons to see some community work, even if it started right when a pardon application is being constructed.
The pardons process is not easy, and it was not meant to be. But we are lucky to have such a progressive process in Connecticut, and your husband would do well to make the changes needed to allow him to take advantage of it.
The very best of luck to you.
Thank you for your help. This was extremley insightful. I guess I could see both sides of the matter. He and others thought that by including this positive statement i.e. about him becoming a responsible drinker would be something that the board would look for as a step in a positive direction. But, I guess if you do not know him outside of that one incident you would label him as "someone who had an alcohol issue" and someone who did not learn from that incident and did not obtain "recovery" services. I forget that sometimes people do not know the totality of his character and would initally be going on what is on paper and his charge without anyone having to explain anything otherwise. So, I guess we should also ask others to exculde that piece when talking about him in their letters as well. I also wanted to ask you if it is important or confidental information that he also include the fact that he was seeing at therapist for many years because of his remorse, loss of livelood, and career. Another words... can that come back to haunt him if he were ever to obtain employment in various careers such as civil service... or is that information confidential?? Also, do you have any support groups with others who have been on this emotional rollercoaster of a ride..someone who can also encourage and empower people....through this process...?? Anonymous Overwhelmed...
Do you get the police report from the arresting police station or can you order it from the Dept of Public Safety? My arrest date was 8/17/09 and the application says to include a plice report if the arrest was within 10 years.
Yes, you must get the police report from the arresting station. Be sure to include ALL arrests on your application as well, even if they are older than 10 years. The Pardon application seems to suggest that you won't need the older arrests, but best to engage in absolutely full, open disclosure when dealing with the Pardons Board.
Can my boyfriend fill out one of the reference questionairres? We are not blood related or married.
Yes, your boyfriend can provide one of the reference questionnaires. In fact, he should make a very good reference for you. Best of luck in filing your application!
my son was arrested 9/11/2007 and released on 6/27/2008 with robbery in the 3rd, 3 yrs probation. can he get a provisional pardon or would he have to finish his probation? He's been looking for work and he's having trouble finding a job, please help i'm worried about him or at least tell me where can he find at thid=s time.
Thank you
Do i need to list charges that are NOLLE on my criminal record on my application?
To the person who's son was arrested 9/11/2007: A person can apply for a Provisional pardon while still on probabtion, but the applicant must have signed approval from their probabtion officer. Please see our web page on Provisional pardons for more information: http://www.connecticutpardonteam.org/provispardon.htm
To the person who asked if they must lost NOLLE charges on their pardon application: Your best course of action is to list everything you have ever been arrested for on your application, even if it did not result in a conviction. From a technical standpoint, you can omit nolled charges and arrests that did not result in a conviction, but it is best to be completely open and honest with the Board of Pardons and Paroles. To do this, you can list crimes you were convicted of on your application, and list arrests with no conviction on a separate self-typed disclosure form. The very best of luck to you.
Please help me understand this! Can you apply for a pardon or expungement if you were never convicted? What must you do to expunge your arrest record? Im going crazy, and loosing hope of ever being able to use my degrees.
An arrest record cannot legally be held against you if it did not result in a conviction. If you were never convicted of a crime, then there is nothing to pardon you for. Arrest records should not show up on background check reports anyway. You should be able to use your college degrees with no problem. You are encouraged to call the Board of Pardons and Paroles to find out how you can verify that you actually do not have a conviction on your record. If employers are using non-conviction arrests agains you, then there is something very wrong here. Start with the Boarad of Pardons and Paroles and see where it takes you.
Any updates on the provisional pardon process and whether the state legislature is still looking at putting some "teeth" into the law? I've written and called a couple representatives in the Hartford area and haven't heard boo. Anybody you know of who's leading the charge? Thanks.
The provisional pardon is still the same, there was no change during this most recent legislative session. There have been discussions about giving the provisional some teeth in the next session. If you would like to be a part of that effort, please contact Jackie Caron of the Connecticut Pardon Team at 1-860-823-1571.
I was granted an administrative pardon at the most recent hearing in new britain. I've heard two different comments about when we will receive our certificate in the mail. One person who picks up the phones at the pardons unit said that we receive our certificates six to eight months after the hearing, and one of the speakers who addressed the court said that we will get our certificates six to eight months from when we apply. That would be about a month from now and make me really happy. What is the real word? Thanks.
First, congratulations on receiving your administrative pardon. Very few of those are ever granted.
Regarding pardon certificates, as a rule they are sent out 6-8 months after pardons are granted. It takes 6-8 months to completely clear up your record, and you receive your certificate only after it is verified that your record is clear. Therefore it is unlikely that your certificate would be sent 6-8 months from the date you applied, since a decision would not have been made immediately upon receiving your application.
Since the decision to grant your pardon was made prior to the hearing, however, it is theoretically possible that you could receive your certificate earlier than 6-8 months from the hearing, but that is solely at the discretion of the Board of Pardons and Paroles and only they can give you that answer. In any event, congratulations, and welcome back to the 'real world' as you say.
Hi, I was convicted of identity theft when I used my sister's ID to get into a club, where I got into a fight, and later it was found that I was not my sister. I was convicted of a felony in January 2003. I having been studying to get into nursing school and was accepted for the fall of this year. I was not aware that such a felony could prohibit me from doing clinicals in school but learned that such might be the case. I completed the packet and handed it in May 15, the review is not until August 15th and hearing at the end of September. Might you know if a provisional pardon will allow me to partake in the clinicals? Thank you.
VA, thanks for the quick reply and the congrats! It feels great that the state gave me a second chance.
For others in the process - I was granted an administrative at the hearing, so don't get discouraged that you didn't get an administrative pardon through the mail. I had no idea I was going to get an administrative pardon. I filled the packet out myself with no involvement from a lawyer. I also have never done any community service (probably should have). It took seven years since being convicted of the two misdemeanors I had coupled along with getting my GED, going to college, serving my country and state overseas and many other life improvements to be granted this great grace.
My son is serving a 120 days sentence for a DWI (alcohol), no bodily injuries involved; unfortunately, the sentence is a felony. His release is in July. Because of the felony charge, he is sure that his professional career is over; as a matter of fact, he is sure that his chances of ever being hired for a decent job is over. When or can he apply for a pardon/expungment with a DWI felony charge? How soon can he fill out the information form to speak to a Connecticut Pardon Team member? Any and all information is appreciated.
To Administrative Pardon recipient: Your encouraging words to others are appeciated. All should know that administrative pardons are the great, great exception to the rule and not to go into the process expecting one. As per community service, rarely does the BOPP grant a pardon without it, and all pardon applicants are STRONGLY encouraged to do as much community service as possible for two reasons; 1) Giving back to one's community a good thing to do and the right thing to do. 2) It goes a long way towards getting a pardon for the great majority of applicants who do receive one.
To the person who was convicted of identity theft: A provisional pardon may help you, but the best way to know for sure is to contact the Board of Pardons & Paroles directly and ask them. Since you were convicted of a crime that is not related to the profession you are going into, your chances of receiving relief from a provisional pardon are better. Again, contact the BOPP directly for verification. Best of luck.
To the person whose son is serving a 120 days sentence for DUI: A person who was convicted of a felony can apply for a full pardon five years after the date they were convicted of the crime. His his chances of ever being hired for a decent job are not ruined, but they will be much more challenging while he is carrying the felony on his record.
The best time for him to start on the pardon process is right away, now. He should perform community service and actively participate in substance abuse counseling and/or attend 12-step meetings. Five years to apply for a pardon may seem like a long time, but that time willgo by one way or another and your son might as well put himself in the best possible position to receive a pardon in the meantime.
Your son is free to contact the Connecticut Pardon Team at any time for help or advice. It's too early to complete his application right now because it will likely change between now and fie years from now. But he can benefit from reading and understand the application and what will be required as far as reference letters.
Your son must not give into despair when things get tough due to his felony charge. I myself was a convicted felon for nearly twelve years before receiving a pardon, and I was gainfully employed in good jobs almost that entire time. That came from refusing to give in or subscribe to the myths that say a felon "can't" get work. It is difficult, but not impossible. Big difference.
There is hope.
Dear VA,
Thank you so much for the consoling response; it was a God send! As a mother, I truly appreciate your words of encouragement, and I will convey them to our son on our next visit. I am sure it will make a difference in his outlook when I tell him about your success inspite of the felony conviction. I am hoping he will realize that all is not lost and hopeless.
I filed for a pardon last year, and they denied me a hearing. The reason was that the board did not feel as though enough time has passed since my conviction.They told me to reapply in one year. My conviction was in 1999, and in 1998. I have been crime free since then. I served 5 years in prison, I have competed my parole and probation, I volunteer at the hospital, I have gotten my associates degree in Human Services, and I am about to get my BA in Social Science in May of 2010. I have a 3.4 gpa and I am planning on going to grad school. What do you think my chances are for getting a this time around?
Also how many times does the pardon board typically tell someone to reapply?
To the person who was told to reapply in one year and is about to get their BA in social Science, don't give up hope. I can tell you that the Board of Pardons and Paroles looks favorably on that you are going to school and have such a good GPA. When I applied for a pardon I had just finished my first semester and had a 4.0 GPA. They didn't even require me to attend the hearing. I was just granted a pardon. So, I can tell you that you going to school and holding a wonderful GPA is very favorable.I am so proud of you ! I think your chances are wonderful. I enclosed a copy of my college transcripts to show off my grades and show that I am trying. You may want to do the same. It shows your dedication and responsibility. Keep your head up!
Hi,
Recently, I was granted an absolute pardon, and I just got a moving violation yesterday (seat belt)... Is this going to affect my certificate coming to me in the 6-8 month time frame? I'm just really nervous about anything at this point.
To the person who got a moving violation: A moving traffic violation is not a criminal offense and will not affect the status of your pardon certificate. If you are concerned about the matter, however, be sure to call the Board of Pardons and Paroles and discuss it with them. Congratulationson your pardon.
My husband was recently granted a pardon for a felony conviction from over 10 years ago. He is considering a switch of career to the criminal justice field. Can be be a police officer or a parole officer with his pardon? Can he apply for a firearm permit? How is he limited even though he was granted the pardon? Thank you.
Was that something he had mentioned in his application as a possibilty or one of his goals?
I just got my letter from the pardon and i was told to reapply within a year.,But they never gave me a reason why i got denied is that how they do things are they just forgot to put my reasons why they denied me for a pardon.
my son was convicted of Negligent homicide.
He has asked me to write a in order for him to apply for a pardon.
Do I write what he went through about the accident? Can you help me. ? where do I begin ? what should be included ?
Thankyou for you time.
ok I am honestly as scared of applying for the pardon as I was of being convicted. I was arrested and charged in april 2003 but not convicted unitl 2005 with an extrememly public trial due to my professional status in the community. I have spoken with two attornies one of whom stated that due to that profession etc. I was waisting my time and the other told me that I had absolutely nothing to loose except the possibility of it becoming public info and being on the front of the newspapers again etc. after I have already established myself in a new career( the publicity would definitely derail it). Are applicants names made public and does the fact that I was a public official genuinely imply that I would not be considered.
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To the Former public official: There is no harm in applying for a pardon, and it is impossible to receive a pardon without applying for one.
While pardon applicant's names are not posted anywhere where the public can see them, it is theoretically possible for an individual to obtain applicant's names via FOI or via the BOPP. You would be best off contacting the BOPP directly for this information at one of the following numbers: (203) 805-6605, 800) 303-2884.
The actual pardons hearings are open to the public, but with so many applicants and so little space in the hearing rooms, there are usually only pardon applicants in attendance during the hearings.
As per your chances of receiving a pardon, they are most simply stated in these terms: Your chances are 0% if you don't apply, and above 0% if you do. Much is dependent on the severity of your charges, your level of post-conviction community work, and other factors related to your post-conviction activities. Much of this information is available on the CT Pardon Team's website.
The very best of luck to you with your decision.
Hi, I am awaiting my letter from the board of paroles to see if they are granting me a hearing or not. I was just called by the victim (who is now quite close to me) and was told that she was contacted to by the CT Board of Pardons and Paroles to see if she would be okay with them granting me a pardon--to which she said YES!! Is this typically part of the process before they issue hearings? Does this look good for me that I might get a hearing? As well, I have contacted all of my references to see if they were contacted and they haven't been as of yet. Do they normally contact references before they send a letter for the hearing? Thanks so much.
To the person waiting to find out if they're getting a hearing: It standard operating procedure for the CT Board of Pardons and Paroles to check with the victim and with the DA to see if there are any objections to an applicant receiving a pardon. It is of course a good sign when neither party objects. Sometimes references are contacted during the process and sometimes not. That is at the discretion of the BOPP. Waiting for news is always the hard part. It is impossible to know what will happen until you hear from the BOPP, it sounds like you're off to a good start. The very best of luck to you.
Hi, I put my pardon application in for the May 15th deadline, and I still have not heard anything from the board, is this a good sign or a bad sign?
Hello - One can never tell if not hearing back from the Pardons Board after submittal of an application is a good sign or a bad sign. Some applications are so good that they don't require a lot of follow-up from the Board. Other applications can be so obviously negative they similarly can be rejected without follow-up from the Board. We've seen it go both ways, so best to be optimistic while awaiting a response. The very best of luck to you on your application!
Hi, I am the person that asked about not hearing from the pardon board. My question basically is, will they respond to me either way? Will I know if it was rejected by them submitting it to me in writing, or will they let me know if I was granted a hearing.
Hello - Yes, you will receive a written response from the Board of Pardons no matter what their decision is. At this stage in the process, you will receive one of the following from the Board of Pardons:
1) A letter that you have been granted a hearing.
2) A letter that you have been denied a hearing and why.
3) A letter that you have received a Provisional pardon (which is not the same as full/unconditional pardon - see our website for more details).
But again, you will receive something back from the Board of Pardons in all cases.
Hello,
I have steps 1 and now the problem is with the adult probation office i can never get a live person to get a record of my probation period what can i do this is very hard for me for now i live in another state and i just cant go to the office advice please thank you
I have a friend who got out of jail last year in sept. He has felony charges for selling drugs. he has no probation or parole. He speaks little english. he got a misdemeanor charge. he found a cell phone and was going to return it to the lady and she was in agreement with given 20 - 30 dollars for the phone and she called the cops when he went to return it to her. Will he be able to able to apply for a pardon?
if i have been convicted in January 2009 of a felony and received 3yrs probation no jail time. This is my first charge. what are my options?
To the person who is having trouble contacting the adult probation office: You might consider hiring a lawyer just to complete that one specific task. Though it may be a little expensive, it is mandatory that you get this paperwork from the Probabtion office, and unfortunately the onus is on you to do that. You can might also consider making a special trip to the office, even if it is difficult to get there. You only have to do this step once, and it might be worth a pardon to you, so no matter how difficult it is, the cost of your not finding a way is giving up a chance for a pardon. You can also see if a free legal aid office can handle this task for you. The very best of luck to you, and don't give up!
To the person who has a friend who got out of jail last year in sept: A person can apply for a pardon five years after the date of their last felony conviction, provided there were no other criminal charges (even misdemeanors) in that 5 year period. If a person only has misdeameanor charges, they can apply for a pardon 3 years after their last conviction.
To the person was was convicted in January 2009 of a felony and received 3yrs probation no jail time: You can apply for a pardon 5 years after the date of your last conviction. If your last conviction was in January 2009, you will be eligible to apply in January 2014. The best time to get started is now. You can do all sorts of volunteer work and other things to better yourself in that period, which will make you a better candidate for a pardon when the time comes. The very best of luck to you.
My husband was granted a pardon after the February hearing. We are still waiting for his certificate. Is this the normal wait time? Can anyone tell me how long they waited after receiving initial notice in the mail?
Thank you!
Be careful with contacting Board of Pardons with questions as can be given wrong answer that just delays & postpones getting approved for certificate! Was approved-then rescinded due to motor vehicle charges not listed due to being misinformed from contact with Waterbury office! Paperwork isn't perfect-things needed to be clearly stated-but by not doing so-gives reason for denial!! Numerous calls-either no call back or when person knowing about my case answers-i just get delayed for hearing longer if that is truth or what i'm being told for time being! If anyone knows another source to contact reguarding problem-please let me know as want to resolve issue & continue forward but up against brick wall at present time!! Thank You!!
To the person whose husband was granted a pardon after the February hearing: The standard waiting time to receive the Pardon certificate is about 9 months, so your husband should expect his around the November timeframe. The Pardons Board has to make sure all records are cleared at that State and Federal levels, so the process is a lengthy one. Your husband is just about there, though, so congratulations and hang in there!
To the person who stated "Be careful with contacting Board of Pardons with questions": The very best way to handle any past violations or arrests is to list them in your Pardon application, even if the paperwork hasn't come through yet. The Pardons Board will appreciate the up-front information, and there will be no surprises at a later date. Even though parts of the Pardon application may suggest that some charges may be excluded (Motor Vehicle charges, charges for which you were not convicted, etc.), it is ALWAYS best to list every arrest or conviction you can think of and include it in your application, regardless of what the underlying paperwork says or where it might be. Best of luck in getting your situation straightened out.
once again -wrong info given from BOP-now waiting for possible hearing so i've been told! are any other sources available to try & help get matters resolved or just politics & long waiting period in hopes of resolution? thanks!!
To "once again -wrong info given": While it is always frustrating to go through a State agency on something as complicated as the Pardons process, it is important to be greatful that the Pardons process is available at all. Most states are nowhere near as progressive as Connecticut is in regard to Pardons, and some states don't offer a pardons process at all. The BOP is under-staffed and under-funded and they do the best they can with what they have. Unless you are able to afford an attorney to address your pardon-related issues for you, the BOP is going to be your sole source of information and support. Try to be as patient and understanding as you can when working with the BOP, and the very best of luck to you on your Pardons application.
My husband was arrested for his third DUI in October of 2004 and served 5 months in jail. He was employed with the same company for 30 years and with this recession, he was laid off this past December. He has been trying to find work for the past year, but with this charge on his application, his has hit a wall. Don't forgot he has no driver's license which doesn't help. He does not do any community service, but does attend AAA meeting. He has no job and no license. He wants to get this off his record, so he has a better change of obtaining a job. What is his next step?
Ok, I put application in for May 15 of this year. The pardon board had to hearing dates and two review dates for the May 15 deadline. I have not heard anything from them. Both deadlines have gone by. I called them and they told me that they have my application and that the application was filled out and filed correctly, my question is, "Is this a common occurance?. They informed me that it may have to be pushed back to the next review date and hearing date.
I was informed by a lawyer that a full pardon does not actually clear up your record. He said that a pardon is like the system forgiving you for what you have done. He also said that when a pardon is granted that agencies like the credit bureau and some other agencies have the information about your conviction, so that means that the information about the conviction can still be seen. I want to know is this true or not!
We are suppose to give back to the community. I worked most of the time. Does being a coach in little league count?
What if you cannot remember exactly what happened in some of the convictions? They want you to write the details of what happened and why but I just don't remember.
When do you need to turn in the packet for the next pardons board review? When is it due?
To "husband was arrested for his third DUI in October of 2004": The only way for your husband to have the charges removed from his record is to apply for a pardon. If he does not do community service now, then he should start as soon as possible. It would help his chances for a pardon, which is the only way to clear his record.
To "I put application in for May 15 of this year": The Board of Pardon & Parole is an underfunded and overburdened agency, so it's not surprising to hear of delays in processing applications. It's impossible to know how often such delays are incurred, but just stay on it and keep working toward a pardon. We are lucky to have such a progessive and accessible Pardons process in Connecticut, whereas some states don't offer pardons at all. The very best of luck to you.
To "I was informed by a lawyer that a full pardon does not actually clear up your record": This is absolutely false. A full pardon completely clears your record. No agencies have access to your criminal record afterward because no such criminal record would exist.
To "We are suppose to give back to the community": Yes, being a little league coach counts. Just do your very best to give back to the community with the available you have and you will improve your chances of getting a pardon.
To "What if you cannot remember exactly what happened in some of the convictions?" Write what you can remember, but keep it brief anyway. It's better to concentrate on the good things you've done since your convictions than it is to dwell on the details of your past crime(s) anyway.
To "When do you need to turn in the packet for the next pardons board review?" Please refer to the Scheduled Pardons Hearings" table on this website:http://www.ct.gov/doc/cwp/view.asp?a=1520&q=317580
i was sentenced to 2 probation 2 years suspended in february 2004 when can i apply for pardon
To "i was sentenced to 2 probation 2 years suspended in february 2004": Your eligibility to apply for a pardon depends on whether you were convicted of misdemeanor(s) or felony(s). For a misdemeanor it is 3 years after the date of your last conviction. For a felony it is 5 years after the date of your last conviction. It appears that in either case you are eligible to apply now. If your last conviction date was February 2004, then you would be eligible to apply in February 2009 at the latest. Please contact the CT Pardon Team for more info if you need it http://www.connecticutpardonteam.org/contactus.htm
The best of luck to you.
I have gotten a letter granting me hearing. what questions should i be prepared to answer? any other tips? thank you.
To "I have gotten a letter granting me hearing": You want to be prepared for the question "Why are you a good candidate to receive a pardon?". You want to respond with an honest & brief summary of the positive changes you have made in your your life and the lives of others since your criminal convictions. Talk about how you have "earned" a pardon, and not why you "deserve" a pardon. Talk about your community service, and if you have had substance abuse problems, what you have done and are doing to maintain your sobriety. If you are going to school or bettering yourself in any way, be sure to mention it. The very best of luck to you in your hearing.
I was wondering if I could still be eligible for a pardon, it's been 10 yrs since my last arrest , all charges I ever had were misdemeanors, but I moved out of ct a couple months ago.
Regarding my post above , I moved to the state of Maine , not sure if that matters
To "I was wondering if I could still be eligible for a pardon": Yes, you may still apply for a pardon while living out of state. There are steps to the process that would require your returning to Connecticut, however, like obtaining your police records, getting fingerprints for submission with your application, and attending a Pardon Hearing if you are granted one.
The very best of luck to you.
I sent in my pardon application for the May 15th hearing, I have heard nothing from them, nothing at all. Not a letter granting me a hearing or a letter denying me. Has this happened before? I am kind of puzzled! Two or three hearing dates have gone by and nothing, can you tell me what is going on.
I apologize, it was due on May 15th.
To "I sent in my pardon application for the May 15th hearing": Since the May 15th hearing date has passed, you should call the Board of Pardons & Paroles to verify that they received your application. Applications are now being processed on a first-come first-serve basis, and are no longer being processed toward specifica hearing dates. This is a new way of doing things for the BOPP, and as such your application may still be in the pipeline awaiting processing. Call the Pardons Unit at (203) 805-6643 for more information.
I am the young man that was waiting on a reply from the BOPP. I finally got an answer. They granted me a provisional pardon. I am happy, but I would have liked to received a full pardon. My question is what does a provisional pardon do? How does it help me out? Will employers still not hire me because of my record? Please inform me. Is a provisional pardon a usual step they make people take before they grant a full pardon?
To: "I am the young man that was waiting on a reply from the BOPP": A Provisional pPardon is a letter from the State that can help allow you to get work in a field that you were previously barred from due to a criminal record. A Provisional pardon does not erase your criminal charges, so employers can still see your record. While you are better off with the Provisional than you were before, you will still need to gain a full pardon to have your criminal charges expunged. It is not unusual for the BOPP to grant a Provisional prior to granting a full pardon, so it is a reason for optimism and for re-applying for a full pardon next year. You should keep up your good work and give the BOPP good reasons to grant you a full pardon when you reapply.
I received my letter that i was granted a pardon at the most recent hearing in Bridgeport. I just want to thank the ct pardon team for this blog becuase i used the questions and answers to help me while filling out my own application as well as give me the confidence to go about doing it on my own without a lawyer. Thank you.
i have recieved my letter for a full hearing at the dec 16th hearing, my question is, if i am granted a pardon, i see it takes up to 8 months to get the certificate stating that fact, does that mean i cant apply for my gun permit until i get that certificate? i work as a security guard in florida and would like to get my armed security license
To "i have recieved my letter for a full hearing at the dec 16th hearing": The absolute fastest way to get denied for a pardon is specify obtaining a firearms permit as one of your reasons for wanting a pardon. While it is essential that you are completely honest with the Board of Pardons and Paroles during your hearing, you will definitely want to stress your other reasons for wanting a pardon, along with the types of things you have done to earn a pardon. To answer your initial question: Until the approx. 8 months has passed and you have received your pardon certificate - assuming your pardon is granted - you cannot state that you have been pardoned or otherwise legally benefit in any way from having been granted your pardon. You must have your pardon certificate before you can state you have been pardoned.
how can a person get a copy of the victims letter to the board and a copy of the states attorney letter to the board saying they are not in favor of the pardon, as i understand it, these are public records and ty for this blog so helpful.
To "how can a person get a copy of the victims letter": Your best bet is to call the Board of Pardons and Paroles and ask them for guidance. The BOPP would know the paper trail better than anyone else. Since by law you are entitled to know why you were denied a pardon - if that's what happened - then perhaps it is your right to know the contents or the nature of the letters you refer to. Best of luck, and please re-post to this blog once you have your answer.
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