Delaware Pardon Petition InstructionsPlease read the Rules of the Board of Pardons for additional information. Prior to being scheduled for a hearing, some charges require that a psychiatric or a psychological examination be obtained if a term of incarceration was served. |
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Follow the steps listed below. Failure to complete ALL of the steps will result in the petition being returned.
| Step 1: | Request a copy of your CRIMINAL HISTORY from the State Bureau of Identification, Division of State Police at 302‑739‑2134. |
| Step 2: | Request a CERTIFIED copy of the Court Docket and Sentencing Order for all adult guilty charges on the record. This can be obtained by contacting the court where sentenced. The court will need to know the arrest date in order to locate the docket. This information can be obtained on the criminal history. Make sure to address all guilty charges in the petition (i.e., felonies or misdemeanors for which fines were paid, jail time or probation served). If there are charges on your record that list the following disposition: Disposition Unobtainable, Disposition Unknown, Pending or Transferred to another Court , then documentation from the court of the final disposition will need to be provided. |
| Step 3: | Complete the Board of Pardons Cover Sheet for all guilty charges. |
| Step 4: | On a separate sheet of paper, state the Reasons for Applying and why you should be considered for a pardon. |
| Step 5: | On same page as step 4 (if possible), write a History of the Case for all guilty charges, providing details of what happened, who was involved and where it happened, etc. |
| Step 6: | Provide a Statement of All Pending Proceedings. State whether there are any cases pending in State, Federal or local courts and the nature of the cases pending. If such proceedings are pending, state which court is involved and note the status of the proceeding. If no such proceedings are pending, this must be stated in writing. The following statement is sufficient: "I have no proceedings pending." This statement may be on the same sheet as steps #4 and #5. |
| Step 7: | Mail a letter, CERTIFIED MAIL, to the individuals numbered below and be sure to keep the original Paid Certified Mail Receipts. Notify them in this letter that a petition for a pardon is currently being filed with the Secretary of State's Office and provide them with the place as well as the date you anticipate being scheduled. This information is provided with the packet or can also be found on web page (www.pardons.delaware.gov) under the "Home" icon listed as "Board Meeting Dates." The letter MUST also include; name, date of birth, the offense(s), date(s) of arrest and the reasons why applying for a pardon.
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| Optional Step: One may submit letters of character references from family, friends, employers, etc. This is not a requirement. | |
| Step 8: | Photocopy everything including the copy of the letter sent in Step 7 along with the Paid Certified Mail Receipts. DO NOT staple or bind the papers, this could result in the petition being returned. Make three separate copies (original and two copies) and mail or deliver completed petition to the Secretary of State's Office, 401 Federal Street, Suite 3, Dover, DE 19901. |
*NOTE* Meeting the application deadline does not guarantee a hearing for the listed meeting date. Hearings are scheduled on a space available basis. Official notice of the scheduled hearing date will be mailed three weeks prior to the actual hearing date. If the Board decides to recommend to the Governor that a pardon be granted, the file is then forwarded to the Governor's Office for his decision. Please keep in mind that the pardon process can be lengthy and it may take several months from the time of the hearing for a petitioner to receive a final answer from the Governor's Office. If you have any questions, contact Chloe Deedon or Judy Smith at 302-739-4111. Phone calls are answered between 2:00-4:00 pm. |
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