A criminal sentencing is not the end of the line. Read our blog for more information about difference between acquittal, pardons, and expungement.
What Are Pardons?
Pardons exempt a person from serving their sentence. Pardoning power is a right but state and federal leaders are responsible for approving them and granting them to convicted people. Pardons may apply to groups and the decision must go through judicial review.
The Decision
The decision to pardon an offender is not an easy one. There is a lot of work and effort that goes into these decisions and not every offender qualifies. Most pardons assume the person is guilty but that they have successfully rehabilitated themselves and want to do better in the future. Pardons are not granted to people who deny their guilt.
Pardon Effects
Pardons are a form of forgiveness but they are not necessarily a clean slate. When a person is pardoned for a crime, the crime remains on background checks. This means that employment opportunities might be affected in the future.
Types of Pardons
There are various pardons that cover different situations including:
- Full. Full absolution of the conviction and consequences
- Partial. Only relieves some of the consequences
- Absolute. No conditions are attached
- Conditional. Conditions and stipulations may be attached
What Does a Pardon Do?
Pardons are not an admission of innocence. Instead, they relieve the person of their sentence. This means that while they may be free they still may not be able to partake in certain employment opportunities. On the other hand, pardons do restore rights such as:
- the right to vote
- the right to run for public office
- the right to serve on a jury, and
- the right to possess firearms.
However, civil suits related to the crime are not affected by the pardon.
Get the Legal Help You Deserve
If you qualify for a pardon, contact a legal representative as soon as possible. An attorney can advocate for you and pursue a full pardon on your behalf.
Contact our firm for more information.