| In many situations, Tennessee law prohibits you | | | | There are a few minimum, bare requirements for |
| from obtaining an expungement and clearing your | | | | applying for a pardon in Tennessee: you must |
| criminal record. For individuals not eligible for | | | | have five (5) personal recommendations, you |
| expungement, petitioning the governor for a | | | | must have fully completed your sentence, and |
| pardon (known as "executive clemency") is the | | | | you must have stayed out of trouble since |
| only other option. | | | | completing your sentence. These are, in fact, the |
| In Tennessee, the pardon process is lengthy and | | | | bare minimums. Your chances are helped by the |
| difficult. The pardon is a moral decision - you must | | | | quality and quantity of your recommendations as |
| demonstrate to the governor that you are | | | | well as your resume, so to speak, of |
| deserving of a second chance, that you have a | | | | self-betterment and community involvement. The |
| legitimate reason for wanting a pardon. There are | | | | more you can show the Board that you |
| many good reasons for desiring a pardon, such as | | | | "deserve" the pardon, the more likely you will be |
| wanting to obtain a professional certification or | | | | successful. |
| the desire to further one's education. With a | | | | As is the case with many legal processes, it is a |
| pardon, your criminal past is forgiven, not | | | | good idea to consult with a criminal lawyer |
| forgotten. A pardon in Tennessee does not erase | | | | knowledgeable of the clemency / pardon process |
| the conviction from your record, but it shows | | | | before submitting your application. Needless to |
| that you have been forgiven by the state for | | | | say, based on the low success rate alone, |
| whatever occurred. Obtaining a pardon can | | | | obtaining a pardon in Tennessee is not a simple |
| significantly reduce the otherwise legitimate | | | | process. You must take careful attention that |
| concerns a potential employer or educational | | | | your best "you" is presented to the Board of |
| institution may have concerning your criminal past. | | | | Probation and Parole. You must put your best |
| It is important to carefully craft your application | | | | foot forward when asking for a governor's |
| for a pardon: two-thirds of pardon applications are | | | | pardon, similar to the way you would go about a |
| rejected outright by the Board of Probation and | | | | job interview. It is just this way when applying for |
| Parole, who is responsible for offering pardon | | | | a pardon; therefore, it is important to make sure |
| recommendations to the governor. If the Board | | | | you make your best first impression. It is vital |
| feels your application has sufficient merit, a | | | | that the Board think you worthy of forgiveness |
| hearing will be scheduled for you where you can | | | | the first time they see you, and the only way to |
| make the case that you are worthy of pardon | | | | ensure that is extensive preparation. |
| consideration. | | | | |
