Pardons
In Minnesota, a pardon or pardon extraordinary is a chance to redeem your life and remove the barriers that having a conviction on your record may put in your way. These barriers include:
- Difficulty in getting a job
- Difficulty in applying for school
- Difficulty in getting a loan
- Ineligibility to possess firearms or apply for a gun permit
At Villaume & Schiek, our attorneys have decades of combined experience, innovative and effective investigation methods, excellent negotiating skills and forceful litigation techniques that achieve results. If you feel that a pardon will restore your rights and your stature as a productive member of society, we can discuss pursuing this goal.
Want A Pardon? We Can Help.
The Board of Pardons is made up of the governor, the attorney general and the chief justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. The board grants pardons for individuals who are currently serving their sentences and pardons extraordinary for those who have completed their sentences and wish to have their convictions set aside.
If the Board of Pardons determines that the person is of good character and reputation, the board may, in its discretion, grant the person a pardon extraordinary. The pardon extraordinary, when granted, has the effect of setting aside and nullifying the conviction and of purging the person of it, and the person shall never after that be required to disclose the conviction at any time or place other than in a judicial proceeding or as part of the licensing process for peace officers. — MN Statute 638.02 subdivision 2 (2)
If you are currently serving any part of your sentence, including prison time, probation or parole, you may request a pardon at any time.
If you have completed your sentence, there is a five-year waiting period for anyone who has committed a nonviolent crime and a 10-year waiting period for anyone who has committed a violent crime.
We are fully prepared to assist you with the process of applying for a pardon. We help you determine the best strategy, request letters of recommendation from employers, friends and relatives, and position yourself in the best possible light to receive a pardon. We also assist with expungements and other post-conviction relief proceedings.
Contact us to discuss your application for a pardon with skilled Bloomington criminal defense lawyers. Call us locally at 952-641-7734 or contact us online today.