There are two basic types of pardons in Connecticut – the expungement pardon and the provisional pardon. If you want to apply for a pardon, you should figure out which is the better option for you. Both have their pros and cons, which you should consider before you begin the application process. You can learn a little more about them below.

Types of Pardons in Connecticut

As mentioned above, the first type of pardon in Connecticut is the expungement pardon. An expungement pardon considers your entire criminal history and can “expunge” or erase offenses from your record. This occurs if and only if you receive a full pardon. An expungement pardon also goes by the term absolute pardon. If you receive this pardon, your entire criminal history will get erased, and you can honestly tell employers, friends, colleagues, and family members that you have never gotten arrested or convicted of a crime.

The big benefit of the expungement pardon is that it will completely erase your criminal history. You will truly get a fresh start. The big drawback to this type of pardon is that it can be difficult to get. Many applicants are denied, since it is such a powerful type of pardon.

Then there is the provisional pardon. A provisional pardon cannot erase offenses from your record. A provisional pardon only makes it illegal for an employer to deny you employment based solely on your criminal record. If you are able to work and eligible for employment in all other ways, a provisional pardon can help you because it will give you a greater chance of getting hired.

The big benefit of the provisional pardon is that it is easier to get than the expungement pardon. However, it does not completely erase your criminal history. It will likely help you get a job, but you will still have to deal with the stigma of having a criminal record.

10 Things to Know About Pardons

Below is a list of the most important things to know about pardons.

1. An expungement pardon erases your criminal record and constitutes an absolute pardon while a provisional pardon only makes it illegal for employers not to hire you based solely on your criminal record.
2.  To be eligible for an expungement pardon, you must wait three years after the date of a misdemeanor conviction and five years after the date of a felony conviction.
3.  You do not have to wait any amount of time after conviction in order to apply for a provisional pardon.
4.  You cannot be on probation if you wish to apply for a pardon.
5.  The Board of Pardons and Paroles judges all pardon applications and has absolute power in deciding who receives a pardon.
6.  You can receive a full or partial pardon. If you receive a full, expungement pardon, you can legally say that you have never gotten arrested and have never gotten committed of a crime because you will have no criminal history.
7.  Victims are allowed to testify at your hearing.
8.  You are responsible for presenting all past convicted crimes to the Board, even if they are not on your criminal history sheet.
9.  What you have done since the time of your conviction is a large influence in the decision of whether you will be pardoned or not.
10. The pardoning process can take up to a year to complete, so the sooner you apply, the better.

Getting a Pardon

In order to obtain a pardon, an applicant must submit a petition to the Board explaining the crime they were convicted of, the sentence imposed and the time served, as well as a brief explanation of why they should be pardoned. Once this is done, other forms are to be submitted. A pardons lawyer can assist you with this process if you have any questions. They can review the types of pardons with you. This can help you find the right pardon for you.