Philadelphia Pardon Attorney

A criminal conviction, regardless of its severity, can make things more difficult for you to gain employment, to further your education, enter the military, gain residency, or even get a financial loan. Your criminal history will haunt you, showing up on background checks and dragging your past into your future. If you've been convicted of a crime, clearing your record is probably very high on your list of priorities. Fortunately, Philadelphia County provides several ways to do so after serving your time and paying your dues back to society.

One of your options for moving on after a conviction is getting it pardoned. It's imperative you know the basics of what it means to be pardoned and the process before pursuing this alternative to determine if its the right course of action for you. If you have any further questions about your specific circumstances contact the LLF Law Firm today.

What is a Pardon?

A pardon is an act of clemency or forgiveness that can only be granted by the Governor. It essentially restores all the privileges and rights once forfeited by you due to a criminal conviction. If a pardon is granted, a conviction is erased as if it never happened, preventing said individual from being penalized for having a record of the offense.

That being said, It's important to note that a pardon is not to be confused with an expungement. A pardon doesn't erase a conviction completely as an expungement does, nor does it seal a record. It simply sheds light on the fact that you have turned your life around and have chosen to start over. In the event a background check is run following a pardon, the conviction will still show up. However, the employer or whoever is conducting the check will also see that the Governor has pardoned you.

The Pardoning Process

Unlike the expungement process, there are no eligibility requirements for applying for a pardon. Each application is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. You can increase your chances of getting your pardon granted by letting an experienced Philadelphia county attorney assist you throughout the process.

Apply

An attorney will request a pardon application on your behalf to submit to the Board of Pardons. The application includes elements such as your educational history, your employment history, and a background check. Aside from the logistics, an effective application includes the following elements:

  • An admission of your guilt or remorse
  • The reasons why you need a pardon
  • Why you deserve one

The Investigation

After the Board receives your application, an investigation ran by the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole will ensue. This investigation will most likely include an interview with you.

Merit Review

Once agents have completed the investigation, they will prepare a report containing their findings to the Board. The Board will then review this report at what is known as a “merit review.” If at least two of five Board members are convinced to approve your application, you'll be scheduled to attend a hearing.

Hearing

At a hearing, you'll be given an opportunity to tell your story to the Board. You should be prepared for questions. After all is said and done, the Board will vote on whether or not to recommend your application to the Governor for review.

If your application gets all the way to the Governor and he grants your pardon, the expungement process will begin.

Philadelphia Pardon Attorney

Because of the large quantities of pardon applications, the process is pretty lengthy. If you have any questions regarding your options concerning pardons or representation, contact the LLF Law Firm today.

Contact Us Today!

The LLF Law Firm Team has decades of experience successfully resolving clients' criminal charges in Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania counties. If you are having any uncertainties about what the future may hold for you or a loved one, contact the LLF Law Firm today! Our Criminal Defense Team will go above and beyond the needs of any client, and will fight until the final bell rings.

This website was created only for general information purposes. It is not intended to be construed as legal advice for any situation. Only a direct consultation with a licensed Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York attorney can provide you with formal legal counsel based on the unique details surrounding your situation. The pages on this website may contain links and contact information for third party organizations - the Lento Law Firm does not necessarily endorse these organizations nor the materials contained on their website. In Pennsylvania, Attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout Pennsylvania's 67 counties, including, but not limited to Philadelphia, Allegheny, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Dauphin, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Schuylkill, and York County. In New Jersey, attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout New Jersey's 21 counties: Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren County, In New York, Attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout New York's 62 counties. Outside of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, unless attorney Joseph D. Lento is admitted pro hac vice if needed, his assistance may not constitute legal advice or the practice of law. The decision to hire an attorney in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania counties, New Jersey, New York, or nationwide should not be made solely on the strength of an advertisement. We invite you to contact the Lento Law Firm directly to inquire about our specific qualifications and experience. Communicating with the Lento Law Firm by email, phone, or fax does not create an attorney-client relationship. The Lento Law Firm will serve as your official legal counsel upon a formal agreement from both parties. Any information sent to the Lento Law Firm before an attorney-client relationship is made is done on a non-confidential basis.

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