Thursday, October 26, 2023 | 5:30-7:00 p.m.
University of Pittsburgh School of Law
Barco Law Building
Room 107
3900 Forbes Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Exploring the Harms of Criminal Records and the Benefits of Executive Pardons
This FREE CLE program is being offered in-person only and is capped at 120.
Pennsylvania has long been among the most heavily incarcerated and heavily supervised states in the country. When a sentence is fully completed, the conviction remains. Criminal records are available over the internet and used every day, often illegally, to deny jobs, promotions, loans, housing, etc. The only way to remove a conviction from the record is by a pardon from the Governor, and the only way to get to the Governor is through the Board of Pardons.
In this CLE, you will learn what having a criminal record has meant to several Pennsylvanians and their families - what they have done despite those records, and how those records have held them back. You will also learn what the process is for obtaining a pardon, the opportunity to help people from your county apply, and the need for further reforms.
This 90-minute program will include a screening of the documentary Pardon Me, a panel discussion including the film's producer/director, experts and people with lived experience in the Pennsylvania criminal justice system, and the opportunity for Q&A. It will explain why Pardon Coaching is such an easy way for attorney to provide pro bono service to an under-represented community.
This program is co-hosted by the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, whose students assist low-income residents on a pro bono basis to apply for pardon. This is part of a large state-wide network of Pardon Projects, which is an initiative of Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity. Attorneys will be asked to consider becoming a Pardon Coach in their county.
This program has been approved by the PA CLE board for 1.0 hour of substantive credit and .5 hours of ethics credit (1.5 total hours). There is no fee for processing CLE credit for this event.