Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles grants pardons to two dozen applicants, denies one and continues one case

HARTFORD, Conn. — The Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles convened a virtual absolute-pardon hearing on July 17 and voted to grant absolute pardons to the majority of applicants heard, denied one application and continued another to the August docket.

The panel presiding over the hearing reminded applicants that any pardon granted is tentative until the Connecticut State Police Bureau of Identification completes record checks and confirms that electronic records can be erased, a process the board said may take up to 10 weeks.

Why it matters: An absolute pardon, if finalized after the required record checks, removes a person’s conviction from state criminal records and can affect licensing and employment opportunities. The board repeatedly told applicants that a granted pardon is not a finding of innocence and that erased records may still appear in some third-party background checks or on the open internet.

Most decisions were unanimous. The board granted pardons to applicants who, in their testimony and supporting materials, described long-term sobriety, steady employment, family responsibilities and community involvement. One application was denied after board members cited repeated recent alcohol-related offenses and concerns about coping skills. One case was continued at the request of the Office of Victim Services.

The hearing included victim input in several cases. In Joseph Glover’s case a victim-read statement described ongoing contact and support for…