Pardons
When a court can't clear it, a pardon may still be open
A pardon is forgiveness from the state's top executive, usually after a board reviews your application. It doesn't erase the record by itself. It is slower, it is never guaranteed, and for some convictions it is the only path left.
We'll tell you straight away if a pardon is worth your time, and if something simpler is open first.
The steps
What applying involves
- 01
Step 1: Check eligibility
Most places have a waiting period after your sentence ends, and some convictions are not eligible. We confirm both.
- 02
Step 2: Gather your history
Court papers, proof of work or school, letters from people who know you. We help you collect what the board looks for.
- 03
Step 3: Tell your story
A pardon application is a written account of what happened and what has changed. We help you write it, and you keep your own voice.
- 04
Step 4: Prepare for the review
If the board holds a hearing or an interview, we practice with you and one of us goes along.
- 05
Step 5: Wait, and plan for either answer
Decisions can take many months. We stay in touch, and we talk through next steps whatever the answer is.
Pardons
What a pardon can and can't do
Does a pardon remove my record?
Not on its own. In many places a pardon is what lets you then ask a court to clear the record. In others it stands as a public statement of forgiveness. It depends on the state.
How long does it take?
Longer than most people expect. Boards meet on a schedule and review many applications. We tell you what is usual where you live.
Can you promise a pardon?
No. Nobody can. The decision belongs to the board and the executive, and we won't say otherwise.
Wondering if a pardon is worth it?
Talk it through with us first. The conversation is free.