Documents Required for Absolute Pardon Application

It is important that applications be complete, accurate and copies of all required documents be provided when the application is submitted electronically to the Board of Pardons and Paroles. 

The Board requires the following documents to be included with your application at the time of submission:

• State Police Criminal History Report (Rap Sheet)

• Notarized Background Investigation Authorization (BIA)

• Three (3) Reference Questionnaires (only one from a family member)

• Police report(s) for any arrest that resulted in a conviction that has occurred within the last ten (10) years 

• Letter from Adult Probation for any period of probation supervision

• Copy of your valid Driver’s License or State ID

Note:  Effective December 1, 2017 the fee for the state Criminal History Reports is $75

    Requesting your State Police Criminal History Report

• Obtain a set of fingerprints from any local police department (ask them to use the green DPS 125c form or its local equivalent) or by going to DESPP - Division of State Police, Bureau of Identification in Middletown for an additional $15 fee. Fees at local police departments vary. (DESPP may use an electronic fingerprint system (AFIS), in place of the fingerprint card, if you have the fingerprints taken at their Middletown facility.)   
• Obtain a check or money order in the amount of $75 made out to “Treasurer – State of Connecticut.”
• Print and complete the Criminal History Request form found here; 
• Mail or bring the completed form, check/money order and fingerprint card to the DESPP - Division of State Police, Bureau of Identification at 1111 Country Club Road, Middletown, CT 06457-2389; 
• Even if you drop the Criminal History Request (Pardon) form off in person, the criminal history will still be mailed to your address or emailed to you; 
• DO NOT MAIL THE FORM OR THE FEE TO THE BOARD OF PARDONS AND PAROLES;
• IMPORTANT NOTE: The Board of Pardons and Paroles only accepts Criminal History Reports generated by the State Police. The Criminal History Report must be dated within one (1) year of the date you submit your online application. If the criminal history exceeds the one year, it will not be accepted and your application will not be processed.

    Completing the Notarized Background Investigation Authorization

• Print the Background Investigation Authorization Form found here;
• Bring the unsigned form to a Notary Public and complete it in front of the notary; it must be signed, witnessed and notarized by a Notary Public.

    Obtaining Reference Questionnaires (A Minimum of 3 are Required)

• Print at least three (3) Absolute Pardon Reference Questionnaire Forms found here;
• The forms must be completed by the individual making the character reference for you and must state they support your petition for a pardon, along with all crimes you were convicted of;
• References may attach a dated and signed letter to the Questionnaire as long as they indicate they understand you are applying for an absolute pardon and they complete the remainder of the form, including signature and date. Form must be within one year of application.
• Ensure the forms are signed and dated within one (1) year of the date you submit your online application;
• IMPORTANT NOTE: Only one reference may come from a family member who is related to you by blood or marriage.

    Obtaining Police Reports (Required for any Arrests that Resulted in a Conviction within the Last 10 Years)

• Contact the arresting agency/police department (usually Records Department) and request a copy of the police report(s) for any arrest that resulted in a conviction that has occurred within the last ten (10) years.  If the arrest was more than ten (10) years ago, you are not required to obtain a report
• If no police report is available for an arrest that was less than ten (10) years ago, obtain a letter from the arresting police department stating that no report(s) exists.
• You may find the arresting department’s name and police case number on the criminal history sheet supplied by the State Police. The fee for copies varies by police department.

    Obtaining Probation Letters (Required for all Periods of Probation Supervision)

• If you have ever served a period of probation, you must obtain a letter from the office of Adult Probation that supervised you, indicating the date on which you discharged from any period or periods of probation and the status of your discharge (probation was successful or unsuccessful).
• Contact the Office of Adult Probation where you were supervised (in some instances, this will be multiple offices) and ask for a letter that states your name, dates of supervision, applicable docket number(s) and the status of your supervision (successful or unsuccessful.) This letter must be signed and dated by Adult Probation on their letterhead.

    Copy of your valid Driver’s License or State ID

• A copy (.jpeg, .pdf or .png) of your current driver’s license or state identification card.  If the address is different on your license than in your application, please indicate why within the application.