One thing to keep in mind about the Board of Pardons and Paroles is that they want to be able to grant deserving applicants pardons, and they are looking for the reasons why they should grant the pardon. However, there are many applicants who submit inadequate or incomplete applications, leave out necessary documents, forget certain guidelines for the application, or simply do not qualify for a pardon. Mistakes like these are unfortunately common, especially for those who rush the process, do not understand the process, and do it on their own, without an attorney. For many of the people who are denied pardons in Connecticut, incomplete applications are a huge reason for this. It is definitely something to watch out for if you are interested in applying for a pardon.
But these potential issues should not deter you from applying for a pardon if you are eligible. On this page, I will discuss in greater detail some pardon statistics so that you can understand your chances of being granted a pardon.
Pardon Statistics
In 2017, the Connecticut Board of Pardons received 1,506 applications for pardons. Out of the 1,506 applications, 1,190 of them were deemed eligible. Out of the 1,109 eligible applications, 681 of them were granted pardons after a hearing. 268 of these granted pardons were absolute pardons, meaning expungement of criminal history.
Applicants can either be denied a pardon at a preliminary hearing, or at the full hearing. In 2017, 137 applications were denied at the preliminary hearing stage, and 48 were denied at the full hearing stage.
In 2015, the overall pardon grant rate in Connecticut was 59%, in 2016 it was 62%, and in 2017 the grant rate was 79%. Each year, the grant rates are climbing, and in just two years the grant rate went up by 20%! This is very encouraging for those who are hoping to be granted a pardon in Connecticut.
You can learn more about pardon statistics in Connecticut for different years by checking out the other pages on our website. We go into detail about pardon statistics for other recent years. Understanding all of this data can give you a better understanding of the pardon process.
Getting Help
You may be worried that your chances aren’t good for getting granted a pardon because you have to make it through several stages in the process. However, from our firm’s experience, the applicants that we help who are eligible, and who fully cooperate with all the information that is needed, and have truly changed since their crimes have a very good chance of getting granted a pardon. While there are no guarantees, if your application is complete, you show the Board of Pardons that you have made positive changes in your life, the chances of your application being accepted are good.
For more information on ways to increase your chances of getting granted a pardon, read the other pages on our website. If you have more questions, or you are interested in speaking with someone about applying for a pardon, call us and speak with a paralegal who can assist you.