The Connecticut pardon reference questionnaire is a one-page form that a character reference completes to support someone’s absolute pardon application before the Board of Pardons and Paroles. Every application needs at least three completed questionnaires, and the Board accepts them only through its electronic filing system.1State of Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles. Documents Required for Absolute Pardon Application The questions are short. The answers carry real weight.
Who Can Serve as a Reference
The applicant needs three people willing to complete the form. One of the three may be a family member related by blood or marriage; the other two must come from outside the family.1State of Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles. Documents Required for Absolute Pardon Application The Board sets no minimum for how long a reference must have known the applicant. The form asks, and the Board draws its own conclusions from the answer.
Strong references speak from firsthand observation. Employers, coworkers, clergy, teachers, counselors, mentors, and longtime neighbors tend to carry the most weight. A reference who has watched the applicant hold a steady job, raise a family, or volunteer in the community can offer the concrete detail the Board looks for. Whoever the applicant picks, each reference should be ready for a follow-up call from a Board investigator.
What the Form Asks
The questionnaire opens with identifying information for both the applicant and the reference. The reference fills in their full name, home address, home, business, and cell phone numbers, and email address.2State of Connecticut. Absolute Pardon Reference Questionnaire The form does not ask for a Social Security number or government-issued ID.
Then come four questions:
- What is your relationship to the applicant?
- How long have you known the applicant?
- Please list ALL offenses the applicant was convicted of.
- In detail, please give your reasons as to why you believe the applicant should be granted a pardon.
The third question is where references sometimes stumble. The applicant needs to tell each reference exactly what convictions are on their record so the reference can list them accurately. The Board already has the full criminal history, so omitting a conviction looks evasive rather than protective.2State of Connecticut. Absolute Pardon Reference Questionnaire
Writing the Answer to Question Four
The fourth question is the heart of the form. The Board weighs rehabilitation, the severity of the offenses, work history, community involvement, and how much time has passed since the last offense.3State of Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles. Pardon FAQs An answer is most useful when it speaks to those factors with specific examples.
Instead of “she is a good person,” describe what you have actually seen. How the applicant mentored a younger coworker. How they kept the same job for six years. How they stayed involved in a faith community or showed up for their children’s school. Concrete anecdotes about accountability and growth land harder than abstract praise. You can attach additional pages or a separate letter, but the form itself still has to be fully completed and signed.2State of Connecticut. Absolute Pardon Reference Questionnaire
How to Submit the Questionnaire
The Board stopped accepting paper pardon applications on June 1, 2020. Everything now goes through the electronic system.4Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles. State of Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles The applicant enters each reference’s email address in the e-Pardon portal, and the system sends the reference a secure link. The reference clicks it, fills out the questionnaire online, and submits it. The completed form attaches automatically to the applicant’s file.
One timing rule matters. A signed questionnaire is valid for only one year from the date the reference signs it.2State of Connecticut. Absolute Pardon Reference Questionnaire If the case takes longer than a year to reach review, references have to fill out fresh forms. Anyone reapplying after a denial can use the same references, but those individuals must complete new questionnaires dated within one year of the new submission.3State of Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles. Pardon FAQs
A downloadable PDF version of the questionnaire is available on the Board’s website for anyone who wants to review the questions or draft answers before entering them electronically.1State of Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles. Documents Required for Absolute Pardon Application Incomplete forms can delay the entire petition, so preparing in advance is worth the effort.
What Happens After the Questionnaire Is Filed
Once the application is submitted, a Board investigator may call references by phone to verify the questionnaire or ask follow-up questions. Expect questions about how long you have known the applicant, what changes you have observed in their behavior, and why you believe a pardon is appropriate. The investigator is looking for consistency between the written form and the conversation, so it helps to review what you submitted before the call.
If the Board grants a full hearing, the applicant appears virtually. The Board weighs the reference questionnaires alongside work history, community contributions, victim impact, the state’s attorney’s input, and any other relevant information.3State of Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles. Pardon FAQs Processing time varies with the volume of applications the Board receives, and no fixed timeline is published.