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Certificate of Rehabilitation 

All Pardon Applications are submitted as a Certificate of Rehabilitations then automictically approved to be considered for a  pardon by the Governor. A pardon is just a certified document signed by the Governor  aside from the Certificate of Rehabilitation that you have proved to be a productive and abiding citizen. 

 

The Certificate of Rehabilitation granted by the Judge in the court that convicted you, serves the same purpose. You do not have to wait for a pardon from the Governor to  proceed with cleaning your record. 

Who Qualifies

if you have been sentenced to State Prison or convicted in a federal court or military, you are eligible to request a pardon.

If you have not been jailed over a new offense since the completion of their case. You have lived in California for the last 5 years. In addition were convicted of a felony and was given probation and have had a expungement already.

 

Court martial must wait 2 years from your release to apply. Additional requirements for a pardon is to have satisfied the courts requests including probation, parole and supervise commitments. 

 

You must demonstrate that you have been a productive and law-abiding citizen. In conclusive, you must not have any open cases or currently active on parole or probation on a felony conviction.

File Preparation

When preparing your application we obtain a copy of your original case files, transcripts and collect certain documents that are required to be attached to your application. 

 

A initial interview will be conducted to prepare a declaration on your behalf. The goal in preparing your file is to make it easier for the court to understand your case, your circumstances at the time of your conviction and where you stand today. 

What We Need From You

You will need to request letters from friends and family in regards to your reference of character. Expressing how you have changed since your release. 

 

We also will need to obtain a updated copy of your criminal record. In which we will assist you in obtaining. 

Once Submitted

Once we have gathered all the documentation required for the application. We will submit the application to the court upon approval, it will be transferred to the Governor's Office.

 

The Governors Office will then contact you to go over your 

application and set up an appointment to assign a parole agent to visit you in person to finalize your application process. 

Benefits

The benefits of obtaining this Pardon/Certificate of Rehabilitation is that you will be eligible for expungement and sealing of your record. You will be able to restore your gun rights, ability to vote, hold public office, serve on a jury and obtain employment with the county. It makes it easier for you to access government aid, get a professional licenses such as nursing certifications, contractor licenses and commercial driving licenses. In addition when considering adoption having a pardon can make the process easier. 

How Long Does It Take

The process can take up to 6 to 12 months depending on  your case and your convictions. The reason for this lengthy process is because it involves gathering documents and scheduling hearings. This includes an additional investigation of your background by the State Parole Department. 

What It Does

  • Shows that, for many years after your conviction, you lived an honest, law-abiding life and demonstrated good moral character (Penal Code § 4852.05) California Courts.

  • May improve job or licensing opportunities: Can be used to support applications for state professional licenses or to demonstrate rehabilitation to employers California Courts+1.

  • Automatic application for a pardon: When granted, it is sent to the Governor’s Office as your official application for a pardon 

  • In rare cases, may help end sex offender registration requirements (unless the offense is excluded under Penal Code § 290.5)

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