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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 Conn. Office of Legislative Research Report #2001-R-0498.
HOW ARE PARDONS GRANTED IN CONNECTICUT?
The Conn. 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.
A reprieve is essentially a stay of execution of a sentence, which gives a person convicted of a crime the opportunity to seek a pardon, commutation, or further judicial review. A reprieve is temporary, lasting only from the time the Governor acts, until the end of the next session of the General Assembly.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR A PARDON?
- Inmate: If serving a minimum sentence of eight years or more, must have served at least four years; if serving a minimum sentence of less than eight years, must have served at least 50% of the minimum sentence.
- Non-inmate: May not apply until at least five years have elapsed from the date of completion of the sentence, including a suspended sentence together with any term of probation attached. The Board may make exceptions as it deems fit.
APLYING 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) 805-6605, or you can download the form by going to the Dept. of Corrections website http://www.ct.gov/doc then click on the link to Board of Pardons and Paroles. 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. Please note that all documents MUST be sent by U.S. Mail to Board of Pardons and Paroles, 55 West Main St., Waterbury, CT 06702. 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.
TO FIND PROVIDERS IN CONNECTICUT'S COMMUNITY RESOURCES DATABASE:
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SOURCES: Conn. Office of Legislative Research, Report #2001-R-0498; Refer Database
PREPARED BY: 211/fj
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: June2008
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