A Note About Pardons

You can apply for a pardon by visiting the Board of Pardons and Paroles ePardon Portal. Public libraries and job centers have computers with internet access for use by the public. This site is also accessible on tablets and mobile devices. For professional, compassionate, and passionate advocacy regarding criminal pardons in Connecticut, contact the Law Office of Tina Sypek D’Amato.

I have represented convicted persons before the Board of Paroles and Pardons in pursuit of partial pardons for over 20 years. I know what they want, don’t want, and expect. 

To that extent, when pardon heart’s were done in person, if one stays for the entire day they could find out whether they got the pardon rather than waiting a week for a letter. I did that. I stayed and watched every single pardon hearing. I watched lawyers, I watched clients, I watched pro se individuals and I watched the board’s reaction to those people during the hearing. I also listened to their questions, and based on my observations during those hearings, I have developed a pardon package, I believe, unlike any other attorney. My philosophy is, do it once, do it right and never do it again. My goal is to submit the package and leave no question unanswered. The more thorough your application, the less likely you will be blindsided with a question by one of the Board members. 

The Connecticut pardon process has changed over the last 20 years. Changes in those who are sitting on the Board and changes in the procedures as well. 

Today, there is no deadline. Pardon applications are heard on a first come first serve basis. That means, the Faster you get your pardon package in, the faster your pardon application will be heard. 

For simple cases, the process is usually pretty quick. You might even have a certificate in your hands within 6 months. For more difficult cases, you could wait over a year. I believe the reason for this is because the more complicated the pardon, the more investigating has to be done. They have to be careful because granting a pardon means you start all over again, fresh, like it never happened! It’s the wrong decision is made, that can result in devastating consequences. 

Getting a pardon is an extraordinary remedy. You are not entitled to a pardon, it is granted to you because you deserve it. It is your job to convince the board that your crime is not so serious and that you are not likely to offend in the future. At the same time, it is my job to help you do that.

My experience and my advice are absolutely connected to your chances of getting a pardon. 

Once your application is filled, a period of time will go by without hearing from them. No less than 3 months. At some point, you will be required to take a call from the parole officer handling your case. It is quite casual and usually it’s just to confirm there application and ask for any missing documents that may be helpful, such as a high school diploma or certificate that you mentioned in your application. Of course if you mentioned it in your application and it’s not attached, most likely we were not able to find it. But the bottom line is, you should not be afraid of that call. 

Also, during that call, you will find out when the actual hearing is where the Board determines whether your application goes forward to a full hearing, gets granted on the papers or denied. That time is usually a month from the time that you speak to the parole officer. 

Assuming you get by the pre-screening process mentioned above, the next step is scheduling an actual hearing. Usually, if you have to show up at a hearing, it will be approximately a month from the time that they pre-screened you. Today those hearings are done on Zoom. So if you live on the other side of the country, you don’t have to actually travel here. However, I generally like my clients beside me during that hearing.

There are a lot of reasons for it, but my advice is, if it’s at all possible, come to my office and we go to the hearing together. 

At a hearing before the Board of Paroles and Pardons, officials want to hear from the client, not the lawyer. Therefore, a good deal of the work of the criminal defense lawyer in this area consists of preparing the client to have enough self esteem to open up and talk about personal life goals in an honest way that will allow the board members to evaluate the arguments thoughtfully. But, you can definitely expect me to make a statement. All the preparation that we do all the time that we spend together working on your application, one of the reasons is so that I can get to know you and fill in the blanks that you forget while you’re answering questions from the board, all the while, with 75 other people on the screen. It can be intimidating. 

Allow me to hear your story and share suggestions on the best path forward.