Our Process for Oklahoma Pardons
If you’ve been convicted of or received a deferred sentence for a crime in Oklahoma, you may qualify to apply for a pardon.
While a pardon does not erase your criminal record, it’s an official sign of forgiveness from the State of Oklahoma and may restore the rights that a felony conviction or certain misdemeanors have stripped from you. It also shows the State, potential employers, and everyone else that you’re back on the right track.
Pardons can also be the first step toward getting a full expungement, especially for certain violent crime convictions or if you have more than two felony convictions. With an expungement, you can completely erase your criminal record from public databases and legally deny that the incident ever occurred.
Keep reading to see how we guide our clients through the pardon process.
Meet with Our Attorney
Once we’ve established that you’re eligible for a pardon in Oklahoma and you retain us to represent you, we’ll set up an initial meeting. The purpose of this meeting is to go over the pardon application, walk you through the entire pardon process and answer any questions about the work we’ll do. We’ll also give you a “homework” letter that includes information and documents that you can start compiling that we will need to submit with your pardon application.
Gather Documents + Pardon Application
The initial phase of your pardon process includes our firm filling out the pardon application on your behalf, gathering character affidavits, and collecting necessary documents.
Pardon Application
The application includes a variety of information, such as your contact information, your reason for seeking a pardon, employment history, military record, and more.
Character Affidavits
We usually ask clients to provide us with three character affidavits.
The most powerful affidavits come from people outside of your family. Great candidates to request affidavits from are an employer, a church or community leader, a sponsor, a member of law enforcement, or a mentor.
Collect Documents
The next step is gathering paperwork and documents, like the court documents related to your criminal record. We’ll gather certified copies of the judgment and sentence and a certified statement from the Court Clerk that you’ve paid all of your court costs and fines. You’ll need to provide proof of residence and proof of income.
Once we have all of the paperwork done, we’ll send it to the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board.
Pre-Hearing Investigation
Once the Pardon and Parole Board receives your completed pardon application, they’ll order state and federal background checks, as well as conduct a Pre-Pardon Investigation.
The goal of the investigation is to determine if everything in your pardon application is true and accurate. An investigator checks to be sure that all court-ordered fines, costs, and restitution are paid in full. They also check to be sure that you aren’t behind on any child support payments (if applicable).
The investigator often contacts your attorney, and sometimes you, with various questions.
The investigator has 70 days to complete his or her investigation. If they find any issues with your application, like outstanding court fines, they usually let you and your attorney know so you can correct the issue. Then they’ll submit a Pre-Pardon Investigation Report to the Pardon and Parole Board.
An experienced pardon attorney can help you navigate this process and ensure you’re presented to the Board in the best possible light.
Pre-Hearing Meeting
Before the hearing, you’ll have a preparation meeting with our attorney. We’ll go over what you can expect at the hearing, questions you’re likely to be asked, and answer any questions you have about it.
Pardon Hearing
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the Pardon and Parole Board has offered many pardon candidates the option of appearing at their hearing by video rather than in person. Many of our clients have chosen to join us at our office and appear by video for the hearing. They’ve found this setting to be less stressful.
During the hearing, our attorney will speak on your behalf about why you deserve a pardon. You’ll also be able to answer questions and speak to the Pardon and Parole Board yourself.
The Pardon and Parole Board cannot actually grant a pardon. Only the Governor can do that. However, they do have the power to recommend which applicants are sent to the Governor for consideration.
The Governor Will Review Your Application
The Pardon and Parole board will send your recommended application to the Governor. It can take up to 10 days for the application to reach the Governor, then he or she has 90 days to grant or deny the Board's recommendation for your pardon. If the Governor denies the pardon request, you may reapply three years after the date your pardon was denied.
If the Governor grants the pardon, you will receive a pardon certificate. Key rights or privileges that you lost as a felon will be restored, and you’ll likely qualify to apply for an expungement.
We Send Your Pardon Certificate to Relevant Agencies
It takes a little time for all agencies to fully process your pardon certificate and have it reflected on criminal record databases. To ensure that there are no unnecessary delays, we’ll send a copy of your pardon certificate directly to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI).
We recommend that you wait a little while before trying to purchase a firearm so all relevant background search databases can show the update. If you do run into any issues, like getting flagged on a background check, we’ll still be here to help you. For example, we can send a copy of your pardon certificate to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) along with a letter to help clear up any issues.
Are You Ready to Change Your Life with a Pardon?
A pardon can change your life, and we can make the process as simple as possible for you. We’ve helped many Oklahomans successfully apply for pardons and then move on to fully clear their record with an expungement. If you’re ready to get started, then take our free Pardon Eligibility Quiz to see if you’re eligible for a pardon in Oklahoma.
