Some people have the opportunity to overturn their criminal record with an appeal. Others can seek to have the records sealed or expunged. Yet, in some cases, neither of these is an option, or at least not one that will succeed
If you fall into this category, it does not mean you should stay entirely without hope, however. One option you may be able to pursue is to write directly to the state governor.
Washington gives its governor an exclusive power
Not all states do this, but Washington gives the person who holds the position of governor the power to alter the lives of some of those convicted of crimes for the better.
The governor alone can do this. They have the authority to reprieve someone who is sentenced to death, exchanging it for a less severe sentence or just delaying the application of that sentence, perhaps giving someone the chance to gather more evidence to appeal the conviction in the future.
The governor also has the right to pardon someone altogether which means that person would no longer have that criminal record that has burdened them and likely affected many aspects of their life.
Will your application succeed?
In some ways, the only way to find out whether your application will succeed is to try. However, with so much at stake, this is not something you want to try to manage on your own. Before any application can reach the governor it must first pass through the state’s Clemency and Pardons Board which will decide whether to pass it on. The Governor won’t act on all the applications that reach them. Only a few people succeed with their petitions each year.
Getting experienced legal help can help you structure your application in the best way possible to raise your chances of success.