What Rights and Privileges Will a Pardon Restore in Oklahoma?
When you have a felony conviction on your criminal record, certain rights and privileges are taken away from you. However, a pardon from the Governor will restore your key rights. Though a pardon does not erase the incident from your criminal record (only an expungement can do that), it is the only way to restore your rights AND can make you eligible for an expungement.
So, which rights will a pardon restore after a felony conviction in Oklahoma? Here are the key privileges that matter the most to our clients:
Firearm Privileges
Anyone convicted of a felony in Oklahoma loses the right to own or use a firearm. They are not even permitted to be anywhere that a firearm is present, which means that no one in their household can own a firearm either.
Right to Hold Office
People who have been convicted of a felony or certain misdemeanor offenses are not eligible to hold public office. If you have a desire to participate in the political process as an elected official, you’ll need to receive a pardon to be eligible.
Jury Duty
Anyone who has been convicted of a felony may not sit on a jury. Though some people may joke that not being summoned for jury duty is a blessing, it’s actually one of the fundamental rights that Americans citizens enjoy. It’s a cornerstone of our justice system that people in other countries do not have the privilege to participate in. With a pardon, you can restore this right.
Eligibility for Housing
It can be very difficult, if not impossible, to secure public housing assistance in Oklahoma after a felony conviction. People convicted of certain drug-related offenses may be banned from receiving assistance from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Local housing authorities often have stricter restrictions, banning people who have several arrests (even if they weren’t convicted) from using public housing assistance.
Career Opportunities
There are many career paths that are closed to people with a felony conviction, like medicine (including dental and nursing), security, counseling, cosmetology, and many others.
With a pardon, you have a much better chance to be able to pursue any career that you’d like.
Right to Vote
In the past, people convicted of a felony lost their right to vote permanently unless they received a pardon. However, in 2020 the legislature passed a law that automatically restored voting rights for people convicted of a felony after they successfully completed their full sentence.
Keep in mind that successfully completing your sentence means paying all fines, fees, and restitution and serving your full probation or parole term. If you had your sentence commuted, you will still have to wait until the full sentence has passed, even if you’re no longer in jail.
There are no longer any additional steps that you need to take to restore this right.
Restore Your Rights with a Pardon
Regaining your rights is an essential step in rebuilding your life and moving on after a felony conviction. With a pardon, you can participate as a full member of your community again. To get started, take our free Pardon Eligibility Quiz so we can begin work to restore your rights.
