Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles grants pardons to more than 30 applicants after in-person hearing

The Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles granted full, absolute pardons to more than 30 applicants at an absolute‑pardon hearing conducted April 8, 2025 over Zoom, board Chairperson Raffaro Berry said at the outset of the session.

“The people of the state of Connecticut have vested the board of pardons and paroles with extraordinary power to grant pardons for convictions in the state,” Berry said, describing the board’s options and reminding applicants that a pardon is not an exoneration.

Why it matters: Pardons erase the state conviction record if and when the state police bureau of identification completes the clearance process, which can take several weeks, and they can remove licensing and employment barriers long associated with criminal records. The board’s calendar included a mix of long‑ago convictions where applicants and supporters described years of sustained rehabilitation, and a handful of more recent cases in which applicants described completed treatment and new employment or educational plans.

What the board did: After listening to applicants, counsel, victim advocates and limited victim statements the three‑member panel voted to grant full pardons in each listed matter. Many applicants had previously completed court‑ordered programs, paid restitution where applicable, and described years of stable employment, family support and community service. The board repeatedly cautioned applicants that pardons are “tentative” until state police record checks finish and that web or third‑party background traces may persist after a pardon is granted.

Notable cases and evidence - Ryan Tapp: The board heard a restorative‑justice report from Office of Victim Services staff and victims who said they supported the applicant after a March restorative meeting. Victim‑services staff member Jennifer Rossi told the board the March meeting was “very engaging, very respectful conversations” and said the three victims indicated they would support Tapp’s pardon. The board moved and voted to grant an absolute pardon for Tapp during the hearing.

- Restorative justice and victim input: The board repeatedly credited restorative or reconciliation efforts in individual cases. For example, in the Tapp matter the victims spoke on the record in support of the pardon; in other matters victim advocates relayed written statements or spoke with victims and summarized their positions for the panel.

- Long‑term rehabilitation: The majority of applicants described convictions from the 1990s and 2000s and presented records of steady employment, program completion, sobriety and family stability. Several applicants described continuing…