Pardons

The material provided on the 211 eLibrary is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be and should not be construed as legal advice. The following information was excerpted from the frequently asked questions on the Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles.

HOW ARE PARDONS GRANTED IN CONNECTICUT?

Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles has the authority to:

grant pardons for any crime under Connecticut law and to
grant commutations from a death penalty imposed under Connecticut law.

Although the Governor has no authority to grant pardons or commutations, he/she may grant a reprieve in all cases except impeachment.

WHAT TYPES OF PARDONS ARE AVAILABLE?

Absolute Pardon (also known as an expungement), if granted, results in complete erasure of an official criminal record. Individuals may apply to the Pardons Board for an absolute pardon three (3) years after the date of the disposition of your most recent misdemeanor conviction and/or five (5) years after the date of the disposition of your most recent felony conviction.
Certificate of Employability indicates that the applicant is employable, making it illegal for an employer or prospective employer to deny employment based on the applicant’s criminal record alone. A Certificate of Employability also indicates that a person is suitable to hold certain types of licenses. A Certificate of Employability does not expunge the conviction/s from your record. Persons granted will receive a ‘Certificate of Employability’ from the Pardons Board.
Commutation by Current Offender

APPLYING FOR A PARDON IN CONNECTICUT

To apply for a pardon you must complete an application (a.k.a. petition) for a pardon and submit it to Board of Pardons and Paroles. You can get the form from the Board by calling the Board main office at (203) 805-6643, or you can download the form by going to the Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles, website, Pardon Links (ct.gov). The application form will include information on what documents you must submit with the petition, such as a certified copy of your conviction record from the court, a personal statement, and three character references. The form will have the details on how to obtain or prepare these documents.

PERSONAL DELIVERIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. If your application form is not completed in accordance with the instructions, it will not be presented to the Board. Although you are not required to have an attorney to submit a petition for a pardon, it may be to your advantage to consult with an attorney before submitting a petition. Applications are processed continuously on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information on determining eligibility to apply for an expungement, see the Connecticut Pardon Team website.

For more information on CT State Laws and other miscellaneous information: Connecticut Law Library’s Judicial website.

TO FIND PROVIDERS IN CONNECTICUT’S COMMUNITY RESOURCES DATABASE:

Search by service name: Pardon/Amnesty Assistance

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SOURCES: Connecticut Law Library’s Judicial website; Connecticut Department of Correction
PREPARED BY: 211/ch
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: December2023