Fairfield County Criminal Defense Lawyers Explain Pardons
After individuals are convicted of crimes in the state of Connecticut, they are sometimes eligible for pardons. A pardon allows you to either have your conviction removed from your criminal record, or it allows you certain employment protections.
Pardons are an important part of helping an individual who is convicted of a crime to get a fresh start and have a fair chance at rebuilding their life. If you are interested in learning about your options for receiving a pardon for a previous conviction, consult with a Fairfield County criminal defense attorney from our law firm, Bayer & Black, P.C. We can help you determine whether you are eligible for this form of relief. If you are, we can help you ensure that your application is filed accurately and efficiently.
For more information about how pardons work in the state of Connecticut, read the information that is provided below.
Types of Pardons
There are three types of pardons in this state, which include the following, according to the Connecticut Board of Pardons & Paroles:
Full Pardon
This type of pardon can completely erase your conviction from your criminal record. You cannot apply for a full pardon until three years after the disposition of your misdemeanor conviction, or five years after the disposition of your felony conviction. Another name for a full pardon is an "expungement."
Conditional Pardon
With this type of pardon, a person can receive a full pardon for his or her conviction, but the pardon is dependent on the individual's completion of certain conditions. If the person does not meet the condition or conditions as set by the Pardons Board, his or her pardon can be revoked.
Provisional Pardon
This kind of pardon offers limited protections to the convicted person—specifically employment protections. Rather than clearing the individual's record, a provisional pardon makes it against the law for an employer or potential employer to deny the pardoned individual a job solely because of his or her criminal record. This protection is secured through a Certificate of Employability, which is issued by the Pardons Board. A person with this certificate also becomes eligible to receive certain types of licenses that can be used for employment.
Assistance with Your Pardons Application
In addition to meeting time requirements, you will also need to meet other criteria in order to be eligible for a pardon. For example, you must not have any other pending criminal cases at the time that you apply. When applying for your pardon, you will need to track down and include certain documents, such as police incident reports for arrests that are related your conviction. Our criminal defense team can help you navigate the system and take steps to avoid any preventable delays or denials.
Contact us today so we can help you with your goal of obtaining a pardon!