CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. — The Cumberland County Pardon Project looks to give people a second chance after being convicted of a non-violent crime. According to their website, those who are pardoned contribute to economic and community growth, with pardons bringing over $16.5 million in higher wages into communities across the state in a 10-year period.
The project builds off of Dickinson College School of Law, which started under Professor Gary Gilden in 2022. In the project, 30 law students helped low-income clients from Philadelphia apply for pardons.
With the support of Dickinson Law alumni and the Bar Association of Cumberland County, the project will be opening its doors to low-income members of the Cumberland community. The project went live on Feb. 15 with a screening of "Pardon Me" and a Pardon Coach training at Dickinson School of Law.
To be eligible for assistance in the pardon process, you must:
- Reside or be convicted in Cumberland County,
- Make below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines,
- Have completed a sentence for non-violent crimes at least eight years ago.
Others may qualify on a case-by-case basis; here is a full eligibility criteria list. The pardon is free if you fall within the federal poverty guidelines. If not, the only expense will be obtaining a copy of your records.
“Pardon Hubs” are also offered to people who need help throughout the process where staff will answer questions. The primary Pardon Hub is being hosted by Central Pennsylvania Family Support Services’ The Som Foundation, which is located at 320 S. Hanover St. in Carlisle.
According to their website, two-thirds of those who apply for pardons in Pennsylvania get one. The website also has a news alert that states, “At the January 2024 hearings, the Board of Pardons decided 144 cases, recommending 118 of them (82%) to the Governor.”