Most people know that the President of the United States has the power to issue pardons – and people regularly appeal to whoever is in office for post-conviction relief. However, there’s a lot of confusion about how presidential pardons actually work. Here are some...
Telling Your Side Of,
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redemption law
What are Brady violations and why do they matter?
In the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case Brady v. Maryland, it was confirmed that prosecutors are required to disclose specific kinds of evidence to criminal defendants so that those affected by such evidence are given an opportunity to assess its validity and respond...
Vacating a Prior Conviction Could Help to Secure a Promotion
The average person is well aware of how many businesses conduct background checks before hiring a new employee. Occasionally, people assume that if they maintain their current employment, a minor criminal conviction won't have as much of an impact on their...
The Fair Chance Act
For a long time, people have realized the significance of having a job and how it can help reduce criminal behavior. But, most employers are reluctant to hire people who have been convicted of a crime, even though they have paid their debt to society. Washington's...
Common mistakes to avoid when attempting to restore gun rights
Restoring gun rights in the state of Washington can be a complex and challenging process. If your goal is to regain your Second Amendment rights, navigating a legal landscape with specific requirements and potential pitfalls is necessary. Knowing and avoiding common...
What are mitigating factors?
You’ve been charged with criminal wrongdoing and you were subsequently convicted. You are now consistently worried about how this will impact the rest of your life. While you were found guilty in court, you feel like there were mitigating factors in your case. If...
Do the courts automatically seal juvenile criminal records?
The record of someone's criminal conviction may affect their life for many years to come. Employers, educational institutions and even landlords perform criminal background checks before deciding if they want to hire, rent to or enroll an individual applicant. The...
Should you pursue a CROP in Washington State?
The criminal justice system offers several different ways for individuals who have paid their debt to society – or who have been wrongfully convicted – to seek specific forms of redemption related to their criminal record. The most common (and well-understood) forms...
Are you “bondable” if you have a criminal record?
When looking at job descriptions and requirements, you may see the word “bondable” – as in “you must be bondable” for this job. Just what does that mean, and does a criminal record make you “unbondable?” Jobs that require bonding are generally those in which employees...
What sort of things does the court consider under SB 6164?
SB 6164, which went into effect in June 2020, gives new hope to those serving long prison sentences in the state of Washington. Among other things, it gives prosecutors the ability to seek resentencing when someone’s original sentence no longer seems just. This is...