what is attorney general role in governors pardon in illinois

by Miss Cortney Kuphal Jr. 9 min read

Who has the power of pardon in a state?

(Source: Illinois Constitution.) SECTION 3. ELIGIBILITY To be eligible to hold the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller or Treasurer, a person must be a United States citizen, at least 25 years old, and a resident of this State for the three years preceding his election.

Can a Governor's wishes be enough for a pardon?

Executive clemency, or a pardon, is when the Governor of Illinois forgives a person for a crime.This can help a person get a job, find housing, or get a loan. What types of crimes can be pardoned? Any conviction in the State of Illinois is eligible for a pardon, no matter what the charges were or when the conviction occurred. But the longer it has been since your last …

Can you get a pardon for a criminal record in Illinois?

Dec 08, 2017 · The 2014 Illinois Governor’s race is starting to ramp up, as former White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley threw his hat into the ring this week. If state Attorney General Lisa Madigan also decides to run, the incumbent Pat Quinn could end up with a fierce three-way battle in the Democratic primary.

How do I get a pardon in my state?

Use the form to ask for executive clemency, also known as a pardon, from the Illinois Governor. Certificate of good conduct Blank form Use this form to request a Certificate of Good Conduct in order to help you get a job, work license, or housing after an arrest or criminal case.

Who has the power to grant pardons in Illinois?

GOVERNOR -(Source: Illinois Constitution.) SECTION 12. GOVERNOR - PARDONS The Governor may grant reprieves, commutations and pardons, after conviction, for all offenses on such terms as he thinks proper. The manner of applying therefore may be regulated by law.

How do I get a pardon from the Governor of Illinois?

In order to get a pardon in Illinois, you have to petition the governor's office. It's called executive clemency, and the governor has the authority to approve or deny your petition.

How much does it cost to get a pardon in Illinois?

Our fee is broken into two parts. The first fee covers the application....Take our online eligibility test to find out exactly. how you can remove your criminal records.PardonOur Law FirmTypical Law FirmPrice*$3,500.00$5,000.00Money-Back Guarantee**noNoPayment PlansYesNoLow-Price GuaranteeYesNo3 more rows

What is the difference between clemency and a pardon?

Clemency is a general term used for the act of reducing the penalties of a crime, similar to a commutation. Also, pardons are actually considered a form of clemency. If you receive a pardon, you are always receiving clemency, but if you receive clemency, you are not always receiving a pardon.

What crimes can a Governor pardon Illinois?

The state Constitution says: "The Governor may grant reprieves, commutations, and pardons, after conviction, for all offenses on such terms as he thinks proper." The U.S. Constitution similarly gives the pardon power to the president. This "executive clemency" is the last vestige of absolute power.

Can a felon ever own a gun in Illinois?

Can a Felon Own a Gun in Illinois? Anyone who wants to possess and carry a firearm of any sort in Illinois must first obtain a Firearm Owners Identification (FOID). A person convicted of a felony crime is not able to obtain a FOID and cannot buy or own a gun.

Can felons work for the state of Illinois?

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the Employee Background Fairness Act into law March 23, prohibiting employers in the state from disqualifying job applicants with conviction records, with some exceptions. The law took effect immediately.Apr 1, 2021

What is a pardon in Illinois?

Executive clemency, or a pardon , is when the Governor of Illinois forgives a person for a crime. This can help a person get a job, find housing, or get a loan.

What is executive clemency?

WHAT IS EXECUTIVE CLEMENCY? It refers to the Commutation of Sentence, Conditional Pardon and Absolute Pardon maybe granted by the president upon recommendation of the Board. Page 8. WHAT IS COMMUTATION OF SENTENCE? It is the reduction of the period of a prison sentence.

What are the limits of a pardon?

The power is granted with only two textual limits: the President may only pardon crimes “against the United States” and may not issue pardons “in Cases of Impeachment.” See U.S. Const.Jun 10, 2021

What does a full pardon mean?

A full pardon gives the convicted person back the status they had prior to conviction. Any rights that were lost are reinstated. The records are not erased however. A conditional pardon can be issued in exchange for something; a pardon will be granted if the person meets a certain condition, or complies with a request.

What is difference of pardon and amnesty?

Pardon is granted to one after conviction; while amnesty is granted to classes of persons or communities who may be guilty of political offenses, generally before or after the institution of the criminal prosecution and sometimes after conviction.

What is the pardon for marijuana in Illinois?

Pardon was given a role under Illinois’s 2019 marijuana legalization act, HB1438, for expungement of marijuana misdemeanor convictions. See Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 2630/5.2. See below for a description of the three-tiered process, whereby non-conviction records were automatically expunged by the State police; less serious misdemeanors were identified by the State police and sent to the Prisoner Review Board for processing and submission to the governor; and those with more serious cannabis convictions required to petition the court. In December 2019, Governor Pritzker pardoned 11,017 misdemeanor convictions that had been identified by the State police as eligible for expungement under the new law. See https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2019/12/31/Illinois-governor-grants-11000-pardons-for-low-level-cannabis-convictions/3581577849769/.

How many pardons has Governor Pritzker issued?

Governor Pritzker issued 24 regular pardons during his first year in office (1/2019-12/2019), and another 10 in the first eight mnths of 2020, all pursuant to recommendations from the Prisoner Review Board. He also approved pardons for 11,017 marijuana possession convictions pursuant to authority passed earlier in 2019. See Part III, below. In August 2019, Governor Pritzker pardoned a U.S. Army veteran who had been deported to Mexico after Governor Rauner declined to pardon him. See https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/prb/Pages/prb15anlrpt.aspx. However, since early in 2020, Governor Pritzker has concentrated his clemency efforts on commuting sentences of prisoners in danger from the pandemic.

What happens to the right to vote in prison?

The right to vote is lost upon conviction of a felony if sentenced to imprisonment ; it is regained upon release. See Ill. Const. art. III, § 2 (“A person convicted of a felony, or otherwise under sentence in a correctional institution or jail, shall lose the right to vote, which right shall be restored not later than upon completion of his sentence.”). (Note that disenfranchisement extends to misdemeanants sentenced to a prison term.) The election code provides that the right to vote shall be restored upon release from confinement. 10 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 5/3-5; see also 730 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 5/5-5-5 (c).

What is discrimination based on criminal record?

Comp. Stat. Ann. 5/2-103.1 . Unless otherwise authorized by law, it is a civil rights violation for any employer, employment agency or labor organization to use a conviction record as a basis to refuse to hire or to take any other adverse action unless: 1) there is a substantial relationship between one or more of the previous criminal offenses and the employment sought or held, or 2) the granting or continuation of the employment would involve a public safety risk. “Substantial relationship” means that the position offers the opportunity for the same or a similar offense to occur and “whether the circumstances leading to the conduct for which the person was convicted will recur in the employment position.” In making a determination the employer shall consider various factors, including the following the time since conviction and the person’s overall record, and evidence of rehabilitation. If the employer makes a “preliminary decision” to take adverse action, the employer shall notify the employee in writing, and explain the person’s right to respond. The employer shall consider#N#information submitted by the employee before making a final decision, and if the final decision is based “solely or in part” on the person’s conviction record, the employer will notify the person of their reasoning, inform them of whatever avenues of appeal may exist, and of their right to file a charge with the Department of Human Rights.

What is the Mayor's policy on prison reentry?

With regard to city hiring, the report recommended that the Mayor “ [a]dopt internal guidelines for the City of Chicago’s personnel policies regarding criminal background checks, and advocate for fair employment standards.” Recommendations from the Final Report of the Mayoral Policy Caucus on Prisoner Reentry, available at http://nelp.3cdn.net/d444d237367c41c64f_kjm6ikkla.pdf . At the same time that the report was released, Mayor Daley announced several major “reentry” initiatives, including reform of the City’s hiring policies as recommended by the Caucus. The Mayor’s press release described a new hiring policy requiring the City to “balance the nature and severity of the crime with other factors, such as the passage of time and evidence of rehabilitation . . . Put more simply, this change means that City hiring will be fairer and more common sense.” Mayoral Task Force Releases Recommendations on Prisoner Reentry, available at http://www.nelp.org/page/-/SCLP/2011/MayorDalysPressRelease.pdf . The Mayor added, “ [i]mplementing this new policy won’t be easy, but it’s the right thing to do . . . We cannot ask private employers to consider hiring former prisoners unless the City practices what it preaches.” Id. Implementing the Mayor’s new hiring policy, the City Department of Human Resources has issued guidelines imposing standards on all city agencies regulating hiring decisions related to people with criminal records. For the first time, the City of Chicago now requires all agencies to take into account the age of an individual’s criminal record, the seriousness of the offense, evidence of rehabilitation, and other mitigating factors before making their hiring decisions.

Can a felony be an executor of an estate?

A person with a felony conviction may not serve as executor of a will or administrator of an estate. 755 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 5/6-13 (a), 5/9-1; see In re Estate of Muldrow, 799 N.E.2d 497, 502-03 (Ill. App. Ct. 2003) (concluding that rational basis exists under the Probate Act for excluding persons convicted of a felony from serving as executors based on demonstrated inability to act within the confines of law, even if the felony conviction, “as applied” in particular case, is remote in time and the person is able to demonstrate rehabilitation).

What is the power of the governor in Illinois?

The Governor’s bill signing and veto power is a really big deal because it gives the Governor a lot of power in the state lawmaking process. In brief, once the Illinois General Assembly passes a bill (any kind of bill), the Governor reviews it and either signs it into law, or sends it back to the General Assembly with one of 4 types of veto action. The General Assembly always has a chance to overturn a veto action, but they have to have more votes to overturn a veto than they did to pass the bill in the first place.

What does the Illinois Constitution say about the governor?

In this Legislative Message, the Governor reports on how Illinois is doing, what could be improved, and what steps the legislature could take to improve the state’s condition. Though this power is not as direct as the Governor’s bill signing and veto power, it can help shape public policy and lawmaking.

Who picks the leaders for all government agencies, commissions, and boards?

The Governor picks the leaders for all government agencies, commissions, and boards where the state constitution doesn’t outline another process for them to be chosen. These appointees advise the Governor about policy and also help ensure that the Governor’s priorities are carried out by their agencies or commissions. This appointment power is pretty broad, including agencies like:

Can a governor pardon an inmate in Illinois?

In Illinois, the Governor, and the Governor alone, can grant a pardon, or commute a sentence (immediately end a sentence and release the inmate) for any criminal offense, as long as the conviction was in the state court system. Most petitions for clemency are not granted. In 2017, Governor Bruce Rauner received just over 100 petitions for clemency, and granted just 5. In recent years, both Governor Rauner, and his predecessor Governor Pat Quinn worked to clear a big backlog of clemency petitions left by impeached Governor Rod Blagojevich.

What is executive clemency?

Executive clemency, or a pardon, is when the Governor of Illinois forgives a person for a crime. This can help a person get a job, find housing, or get a loan.

How to remove a conviction from your record?

In order to remove the criminal conviction from your record, you have to ask the Governor for a pardon with permission to expunge. If the Governor gives it to you, you can then file a petition to expunge the pardoned offense. Note: The information above only applies to clemency for state crimes in Illinois.

What is executive clemency?

Executive clemency, or a pardon, is when the Governor of Illinois forgives a person for a crime. This can help a person get a job, find housing, or get a loan. What types of crimes can be…. More on Applying for executive clemency.

How to write a clemency petition?

Write your petition using these 6 sections. Title each section with the appropriate header: 1 Required general information 2 Convictions you are trying to get pardoned 3 Your complete criminal history 4 Personal life history 5 Your reasons for asking for clemency 6 State the type of clemency you are asking for and ask for a public hearing

How long does it take to get a prison review letter?

After 4 to 6 weeks you will receive a letter from the Prison Review Board stating that your petition was received and is complete. The letter will also include your hearing date, docket number, and the room number where your hearing will be held if you requested one.

How to get a petition notarized?

Get the petition notarized and make copies. Take your typed petition to a notary public. Sign the last page in front of the notary public. You can usually have the petition notarized at a currency exchange or bank; this usually only costs a dollar or two. Make copies of your signed, notarized petition and all other papers you are going ...

Who can grant pardons?

In the United States, a pardon can only be granted by an Executive of the government. In the case of the Federal government, that means the President of the United States, and in fact, the President's right to pardon individuals is denoted explicitly in the U.S. Constitution.

What is pardon in law?

A pardon is an act of the Executive of a state or country whereby a person is forgiven of a crime. If the person is still serving criminal penalties such as a prison sentence, that penalty is no longer in effect and the person will be released immediately.

What happens if a conviction is expunged?

When a crime is pardoned, it is forgiven, but when a conviction is expunged, your record is completely clear.

Can you get expunged for a felony?

If you meet the qualifications for your state, which usually means a first offense and one that did not result in a conviction for a first or second degree felony, sex crime or crime against children, you may apply for expungement.

Does a pardon erase a conviction?

That being said, a pardon does not erase a conviction. The conviction remains on your criminal record and must be disclosed in any situation where information about past criminal activity is required.

What does the governor do?

Governors often use State of the State messages to outline their legislative platforms, and many governors prepare specific legislative proposals to be introduced on their behalf. In addition, state departments and agencies may pursue legislative initiatives with gubernatorial approval.

What is the role of a governor in the state legislature?

Governors play two broad roles in relation to state legislatures. First, they may be empowered to call special legislative sessions, provided in most cases that the purpose and agenda for the sessions are set in advance .

What is the role of a governor in the budget process?

Governors develop and submit annual or biennial budgets for review and approval by the legislature . In a number of states, commonwealths, and territories, governors also have “reduction”—most often referred to as “line-item”—veto power that can be used for the removal of appropriations to which they object. These tools allow governors and their budget staff to play a strong role in establishing priorities for the use of state resources. For state by state information on gubernatorial budget making and line-item veto power, see “ The Governors: Powers ” (Table 4.4, The Book of the States 2019, source: The Council of State Governments).

What authority does a governor have to issue executive orders?

The authority for governors to issue executive orders is found in state constitutions and statutes as well as case law , or is implied by the powers assigned to state chief executives. Governors use executive orders—certain of which are subject to legislative review in some states—for a variety of purposes, among them to:

What are the powers of governors?

Emergency Powers. As chief executive, governors are responsible for ensuring their state is adequately prepared for emergencies and disasters of all types and sizes. Most emergencies and disasters are handled at the local level, and few require a presidential disaster declaration or attract worldwide media attention.

Why do governors interact with their legislatures?

Governors interact with their legislatures to help ensure that their priorities, goals, and accomplishments are accurately presented and positively received during oversight hearings and other legislative activities that address and evaluate executive branch implementation of legislatively mandated programs and services.

How long is a gubernatorial term?

Gubernatorial terms are four years in every state, commonwealth, and territory but New Hampshire and Vermont, which have two year terms. All governors with the exception of Virginia’s may succeed themselves, although they may be limited to a specific number of consecutive or total terms.

I. Loss & Restoration of Civil/Firearms Rights

  • A. Vote
    The right to vote is lost upon conviction of a felony if sentenced to imprisonment; it is regained upon release. SeeIll. Const. art. III, § 2 (“A person convicted of a felony, or otherwise under sentence in a correctional institution or jail, shall lose the right to vote, which right shall be restor…
  • B. Office
    The right to hold an office created by the state constitution (e.g., any of the five statewide offices— governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, treasurer, attorney general; a member of the state General Assembly; a judgeship; a chief education officer position and a member of t…
See more on ccresourcecenter.org

II. Pardon Policy & Practice

  • A. Authority
    The pardon power is vested in the Governor, although “the manner of applying therefore may be regulated by law.” Ill. Const. art. V, § 12. By statute, the Prisoner Review Board (PRB) serves as “the board of review and recommendation for the exercise of executive clemency by the Govern…
  • B. Administration
    PRB consists of 15 members appointed by the Governor to six year terms, with the advice and consent of the Senate. 730 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 5/3-3-1(b), (c). No more than 8 of the same party may be on the board. The chair is to be appointed by the Governor. Id. Six-year terms, members …
See more on ccresourcecenter.org

III. Expungement, Sealing & Other Record Relief

  • The strengths and weaknesses of Illinois sealing law, including eligibility criteria and applicable procedures, are analyzed in Beth Johnson et al., Access Barriers to Sealing of Felony Convictions in Illinois: A Close Look at Law and Practice (February 2021). Public Act 96-0409 (August 8, 2009) amended the Criminal Identification Act, 20 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 2630/0.01 et seq. Notably, the l…
See more on ccresourcecenter.org

IV. Criminal Record in Employment, Licensing & Housing

  • A. Nondiscrimination in employment and housing
    Employment discrimination based on criminal record: On March 23, 2021, Governor Pritzker signed into law HR1480, a major expansion of the Illinois Human Rights Act to add a new section prohibiting discrimination in employment based on criminal record. See 775 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann.…
  • B. Ban-the-Box in employment
    The Job Opportunities for Qualified Applicants Act, enacted in 2014, prohibits public and private employers with more than 15 employees from from inquiring into an applicant’s criminal record “until the applicant has been determined qualified for the position and notified that the applicant …
See more on ccresourcecenter.org

Appointment & Removal Power

Image
The Governor picks the leaders for all government agencies, commissions, and boards where the state constitution doesn’t outline another process for them to be chosen. These appointees advise the Governor about policy and also help ensure that the Governor’s priorities are carried out by their agencies or commissions. Th…
See more on medium.com

Agency Organization & Reorganization Power

  • Since state agencies play such a big role in providing services and information to the state’s residents and visitors, another important Gubernatorial power is being able to organize or reorganize a state agency using an “Executive Order.” Sometimes the Governor can just release an Executive Order to reorganize an agency, or form a new task force or commission, and that’s tha…
See more on medium.com

Pardon Power

  • In Illinois, the Governor, and the Governor alone, can grant a pardon, or commute a sentence (immediately end a sentence and release the inmate) for any criminal offense, as long as the conviction was in the state court system. Most petitions for clemency are not granted. In 2017, Governor Bruce Rauner received just over 100 petitions for clemency, and granted just 5. In rece…
See more on medium.com

Legislative Message Power

  • The state constitution gives the Governor the power to give an annual address to the Illinois legislature at the start of each session. In this Legislative Message, the Governor reports on how Illinois is doing, what could be improved, and what steps the legislature could take to improve the state’s condition. Though this power is not as direct as the Governor’s bill signing and veto powe…
See more on medium.com

Bill Signing & Veto Power

  • The Governor’s bill signing and veto power is a really big deal because it gives the Governor a lot of power in the state lawmaking process. In brief, once the Illinois General Assembly passes a bill (any kind of bill), the Governor reviews it and either signs it into law, or sends it back to the General Assembly with one of 4 types of veto action. The General Assembly always has a chanc…
See more on medium.com

Bonus! The Governor’s Emergency Power

  • In addition to the powers laid out in the state constitution, Illinois’ Governor has the power to suspend normal activity or laws during a state of emergency.
See more on medium.com

Limits on The Governor’s Power

  • Even though the state constitution gives the Governor “supreme executive power,” there are still some limits on that power. If there are suspicions of wrongdoing, the Illinois House of Representatives has the power to launch an investigation and to vote to impeach (remove from office) the Governor. If the Illinois House does vote to impeach, then there is an impeachment tri…
See more on medium.com

Make A Plan to Vote!

  • Now that you have a better handle on what Illinois’ Governor actually does, the next step is to research the 2018 Gubernatorial candidates on BallotReady and make a plan to vote! You can also sign up to host or attend a Ballot Partythis fall, where you can learn more about your whole ballot while having fun!
See more on medium.com