Elsewhere on this website, I have discussed the importance of the Board of Pardons and Paroles in your pardon application. While the board as a whole is important to the denial or acceptance of your application, the person who has the most power and influence in this situation is the chairman of the Board of Pardons. The chairman is the only board member present at every pardon hearing. This ensures that he or she personally gets involved in your application. In order to create the best pardon application that you can, it is important to understand the role of the chairman of the Board of Pardons. You can learn more here.

Role Of The Board Of Pardons Chairman

The Board of Pardons chairman is both the administrative and the executive head of the board. He or she is the only member of the board allowed to weigh in on pardons and paroles. All other board members get split by the chairman to work with one type of case.

Each pardon hearing has a panel of three Board of Pardons and Paroles members. The chairman (or someone designated by the chairman) is always part of this panel. Two other board members that work with pardon cases are also part of the panel, but these board members will rotate. Because the chairman of the Board of Pardons and Paroles will be involved in your application, it is important to appeal to his or her preferences. For this reason, you should know the chairman’s answers to the following questions:

Questions About The Chairman

• How is he or she qualified? Why was the chairman chosen to lead the Board of Pardons and Paroles? What experiences, education, and training has he or she received to fulfill the job requirements?
• What is his or her view toward imprisonment?
• What is his or her view toward pardons?
• What proposed changes to policy does he or she have?
• What are the most important pieces of evidence in a pardon application?
• What kind of consideration does he or she give to a victim’s testimony?
• What influence do politics and policy have on his or her decisions?
• Under what situations might he or she feel the need to recuse him or herself from making a pardon decision?
• How long does he or she believe someone should serve a sentence before they can apply for a pardon?
• How does he or she feel about the changes made to the pardon process?
• How does he or she feel about the requirement of sending pardon applicants a written statement regarding the board’s decision?

Understanding the role of the chairman of the Board of Pardons and Paroles can set your pardon application apart from the others. In the event that the crimes on your criminal history cannot be automatically expunged in Connecticut, you will need to learn more about the Board of Pardons in order to strengthen your pardon application. For more information on applying for a pardon, you can contact my office.