Executive Clemency
In the State of Illinois, Executive Clemency refers to the Governor's power to grant reprieves, commutations and pardons, after conviction, for all offenses on such terms as he thinks proper. In other words, "clemency" is an umbrella term that can include:
Reprieve: a temporary postponement of punishment without reference to such issues as due process or the guilt or innocence of the accused.
Commutation: a reduction in the severity of a punishment, shortening the length of the sentence or changing it from death to another lesser sentence. Commutation is appropriate for a person in prison seeking to be released early.
Pardon: forgiveness of a crime and the penalty associated with it. This relief is usually granted in order to restore civil rights such as the right to hold public office, participate in a jury, own a firearm (by the granting of a FOID card), etc. It is usually for persons who are not in custody or on probation and want to be "pardoned" for their offenses.
Expungement: refers to a process whereby records pertaining to a case are removed or destroyed, as if the offense never happened. After expungement, the records are no longer available for anyone to access, even by a court order. In Illinois, the Governor may only recommend an expungement to the county court after the granting of a pardon. Some forms of expungement are also available directly through the county courts.
Why you should apply for a Pardon?
An arrest or criminal conviction in your record can prevent you from getting a job and/or advancing in your career. Or even worse, if you are not a U.S. citizen, you can face deportation and be forced to return to the country where you were born. Even If you received probation only, you are still considered a convict just as if you had gone to prison. All felonies will remain on your record and can only be removed with a governor’s pardon.
If you have turned your life around but your past continues to haunt you, you can start the process of cleaning your record by retaining our firm to file an executive clemency petition.
The Governor's forgiveness restores all rights and privileges you lost as a result of your convictions and will perhaps make it possible to get a job, go to school, and move on with your life.
JORGE MONTES, the former Chairman of the Prisoner Review Board (PRB), is in a unique position to help you with your clemency petition. Using his unparalleled experience on the PRB –over 16 years on the board– he will assist you in preparing your case for clemency and represent you at your hearing before the Illinois PRB.
Why not allow the most seasoned lawyer in this area of the law to assist you in securing the relief you need to move on with your life?
Reprieve: a temporary postponement of punishment without reference to such issues as due process or the guilt or innocence of the accused.
Commutation: a reduction in the severity of a punishment, shortening the length of the sentence or changing it from death to another lesser sentence. Commutation is appropriate for a person in prison seeking to be released early.
Pardon: forgiveness of a crime and the penalty associated with it. This relief is usually granted in order to restore civil rights such as the right to hold public office, participate in a jury, own a firearm (by the granting of a FOID card), etc. It is usually for persons who are not in custody or on probation and want to be "pardoned" for their offenses.
Expungement: refers to a process whereby records pertaining to a case are removed or destroyed, as if the offense never happened. After expungement, the records are no longer available for anyone to access, even by a court order. In Illinois, the Governor may only recommend an expungement to the county court after the granting of a pardon. Some forms of expungement are also available directly through the county courts.
Why you should apply for a Pardon?
An arrest or criminal conviction in your record can prevent you from getting a job and/or advancing in your career. Or even worse, if you are not a U.S. citizen, you can face deportation and be forced to return to the country where you were born. Even If you received probation only, you are still considered a convict just as if you had gone to prison. All felonies will remain on your record and can only be removed with a governor’s pardon.
If you have turned your life around but your past continues to haunt you, you can start the process of cleaning your record by retaining our firm to file an executive clemency petition.
The Governor's forgiveness restores all rights and privileges you lost as a result of your convictions and will perhaps make it possible to get a job, go to school, and move on with your life.
JORGE MONTES, the former Chairman of the Prisoner Review Board (PRB), is in a unique position to help you with your clemency petition. Using his unparalleled experience on the PRB –over 16 years on the board– he will assist you in preparing your case for clemency and represent you at your hearing before the Illinois PRB.
Why not allow the most seasoned lawyer in this area of the law to assist you in securing the relief you need to move on with your life?
Click here to learn more about Clemency.