On other pages, I have mentioned the importance of the Board of Pardons and Paroles members for your pardon application. This Board has sole control over who receives and who is denied pardons in the state of Connecticut. For this reason, if you are serious about your pardon application, you need to do more than recognize the Board of Pardons. Your pardon application will be best if you understand each individual member of the Board. You should try to align your application to their personal viewpoints, beliefs, and values. While this will not guarantee a successful pardon, it can improve your chances of having a pardon hearing. This is the first step in getting your pardon granted.

Here, I will discuss each of the Board of Pardon and Parole members individually. This will give you a good idea of each board member, which can make your pardon application stronger.

Rufaro Berry

Berry was appointed to the Board of Pardons and Paroles in October 2014. Governor Dannel Malloy appointed Berry as a full-time member of the Board of Pardons. She has remained a full time board member since. Her previous education and work experience give her a unique perspective on the pardon process. Berry went to school at Albertus Magnus College. She graduated in 2009 Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Business Management, Sociology, and Criminal Justice. She also worked for 15 years as a paralegal for the Bershtein, Bershtein, and Bershtein law firm in Hamden, Connecticut. Among her jobs with the law firm, Berry worked with clients and the firm’s partners on cases.

Despite the fact that she is new to the Board of Pardons and Paroles, Berry is passionate about and dedicated to social justice. Her experience working for a private law firm helped her to interact with people who had been accused of crimes. This gives her a different perspective on the pardon applicants that she works with.

It is likely that as a full time member of the Board of Pardons and Paroles, Berry will have some interaction with your pardon application. For this reason, you should make sure that your pardon application and what you say during your pardon hearing will align with Berry’s passions and interests. While this will not guarantee that your application will be approved, it can improve your chances of getting a pardon approved.

Joy Chance

Joy Chance has been a full-time member of the Board of Pardons and Paroles since October 2014. At this time, she got appointed to the Board by Governor Malloy. Chance went to Cambridge College, where she earned a Masters in Education and a minor degree in Psychology.

Chance began her career working in social services at the Open Hearth Association, located in Hartford, Connecticut. At this association, she worked as the Director of Employment, Education, and Training for parolees and staff members. During this time, she was in charge of supervising about 50 residents who were on probation and parole. She also supervised those who had pre-trial status, and those who were inmates of the Department of Corrections. After working with the Open Hearth Association, Chance spent over 16 years supervising and evaluating parolees to determine the right parole supervised program for each individual. Most recently, Chance worked with parolees as a therapist with Connection, Inc. Her counseling assisted parolees in their quest to remain in compliance with their parole orders. Chance worked with these parolees to maintain their parole status and the experience allowed Chance the opportunity to understand the unique problems facing current parolees.

Working with parolees in various jobs and contexts, Chance came to understand which parolees were truly remorseful for their pasts, as well as the needs of each parolee. These skills help Chance understand pardon applicants’ backgrounds as well as their desires to make positive changes in their lives, which helps her determine how genuine a candidate is in his or her application. Her extensive background with those convicted of crimes makes her a Board of Pardons member who understands the pardon applicant. Her desire to help these applicants change their lives is apparent in her career background. Your application can appeal to Chance if you can show the positive work that you did as a parolee and how you will continue this model behavior once your pardon is granted.

Stephen Dargan

Mr. Dargan joined the Board of Pardons in 2017. Before that, he was a State Representative in West Haven from 1991-2017. He was also the House Chairman of the Public Safety and Security Committee. In addition, Mr. Dargan was the Fire Commissioner for West Haven from 1980-2004 and he also served as a member of the City Council in West Haven from 1985-1991.

Michael Pohl

Michael Pohl became a full time member of the Board of Pardons in 2019. Before that, he was an 8th grade teacher in Manchester from 2009-2019. Before working as a teacher, Mr. Pohl worked with the Connecticut Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (CADAC) starting in 1986. While working as a CADAC Commissioner, he learned more about addiction, treatment programs, and helping others. Mr. Pohl is himself a recovering alcoholic, and has served as the Executive Director of the Pathfinders Association, where he recovered from his addiction issues. Mr. Pohl has a profound interest in helping others recover from drug and alcohol issues and providing them with the fresh start that he himself received.

Nancy Turner

Nancy Turner was appointed as a full time Board member in 2017. Before becoming a Board member, she worked at Advanced Behavioral Health, Inc. She also worked as the Director of Offender Risk Reduction for the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV). In addition to her work as Director, she chaired the Connecticut Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee. Turner has also worked as a teacher and or the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

Jennifer Zaccagnini

Zaccagnini was appointed to the Board of Pardons as a part time member in 2008. She has served on the Board of Pardons and Paroles ever since. Before her involvement with the Board of Pardons, Zaccagnini worked to further her education and held many positions in the social services field. She has a Bachelor’s degree from Central Connecticut State University in Sociology, as well as a Master’s degree from the University of New Haven in Criminal Justice.

Upon graduation, Zaccagnini went to work with the Alternative Incarceration Center (AIC), located in Waterbury, Connecticut. She worked as a treatment social worker and a residential monitor for the AIC. During this time, she supervised 40 facility residents at various stages of the criminal process. Some residents were awaiting trial, while others were on parole or probation. This experience helped her to manage and help people as they navigated the criminal justice system.

After leaving the AIC, Zaccagnini went to work for the Department of Children and Families (DCF) in Torrington, Connecticut. She worked as a social work supervisor and an investigative social worker. Her role with DCF allowed her to help families stay together or reunite after time apart. Zaccagnini’s goal during her time with DCF was to do what was best for the children in Connecticut. As an investigative social worker, sometimes this meant removing children from abusive situations.

Zaccagnini’s resume and education indicate that she is committed to helping children and families, as well as assisting those who have been convicted of a crime to turn their lives around. For these reasons, it makes sense that Zaccagnini would want to help people start over by granting pardons. If you can prove that you have made positive steps in your life to change for the better, Zaccagnini will appreciate this. Positive volunteer work with children would also be viewed favorably by Zaccagnini.

Deborah Smith-Palmieri

Smith-Palmieri was a Supervising United States Probation Officer for the District of Connecticut until 2018, when she retired. During her career, she worked with high-risk offenders, particularly those with mental health or substance abuse issues. In 2008, she implemented Connecticut’s three drug courts and was the operational coordinator for them until she retired. She was also part of the team that implemented the first re-entry court in Connecticut in 2015.

Smith-Palmieri was appointed as a part-time Board of Pardons and Paroles member in 2020 and later became a full-time member.

Sergio Rodriguez

Rodriguez worked for the New Haven Board of Education as a Restorative Coach before becoming a full time Pardons and Paroles board member in 2023. He has over 40 years of experience in criminal justice, social services, and substance abuse treatment.

Robert Cizauskas

Cizauskas served as a Lieutenant in the Waterbury Police Department for over 20 years. He was also a police officer in Torrington and served as a Sergeant in the Connecticut Army National Guard. Over the course of his career, he worked in the Patrol Division, Detective Division, Vice and Intelligence Division, Police Activity League, and Statewide Narcotics Task Force.

He joined the Board of Pardons and Paroles in 2024.

Ellen Zoppo-Sassu

Zoppo-Sassu worked as the Mayor of Bristol and the Town Manager of Enfield before joining the Board of Pardons and Paroles in 2024. Throughout her career, Zoppo-Sassu worked to encourage substance abuse recovery.