You presented a pardon petition to the Illinois Prisoner Review Board, and everything seemed to go very well. The state’s attorney did not object to your pardon. A couple board members even said you had clearly changed for the better.
Does the governor have a specific time limit in deciding your petition?
Unfortunately, the answer is no. Requests for pardon are reviewed very carefully. As such, you must brace yourself for the possibility that a decision could take two years or longer. Furthermore, even the quickest decisions will tend to take more than six months.
This does not mean that should give up on requesting a pardon; the relief in receiving a clean slate can be considerable. But it does mean that you must adjust your expectations.
So while the wait may be a long one, I can see from my clients that it is well worth it.
If you wish to seek an Illinois pardon, contact an experienced attorney immediately. An attorney can help you present you and your situation to the Board in your best possible light.
If you have questions about executive clemency, please contact Matt Keenan at 847-568-0160 or email matt@mattkeenanlaw.com.
(Besides Skokie, Matt Keenan also serves the communities of Arlington Heights, Chicago, Deerfield, Des Plaines, Evanston, Glenview, Morton Grove, Mount Prospect, Niles, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Rolling Meadows, Wilmette and Winnetka.)
