Restoring Civil Rights After a Felony in Connecticut

How Connecticut law treats restoring rights after a felony, from the state code and official state agencies.

Short answer: Voting is restored automatically on release from prison (§ 9-46a); a person who has not regained voting privileges may not run for or hold public office (§ 9-46(c)). Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 9-46, 9-46a, 51-217(a)(2), 53a-217, 54-130a, 54-130e

Restoring rights after a felony	Voting is restored automatically on release from prison (§ 9-46a); a person who has not regained voting privileges may not run for or hold public office (§ 9-46(c)). Jury service: a person is disqualified only if convicted of a felony within the past three years, facing a pending felony case, or in the custody of the Commissioner of Correction. Firearms: the felony ban on possessing firearms has no end date in the statute. Pardons: the Board of Pardons and Paroles grants conditional, provisional or absolute pardons and certificates of rehabilitation; it may accept a pardon application five years after a felony conviction (three years after a misdemeanor), or earlier in extraordinary circumstances. Provisional pardons and certificates of rehabilitation relieve barriers to jobs and licenses. Voting: https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_143.htm ; jury: https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_884.htm ; firearms: https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_952.htm Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 9-46, 9-46a, 51-217(a)(2), 53a-217, 54-130a, 54-130e

Restoring rights after a felony

Voting is restored automatically on release from prison (§ 9-46a); a person who has not regained voting privileges may not run for or hold public office (§ 9-46(c)). Jury service: a person is disqualified only if convicted of a felony within the past three years, facing a pending felony case, or in the custody of the Commissioner of Correction. Firearms: the felony ban on possessing firearms has no end date in the statute. Pardons: the Board of Pardons and Paroles grants conditional, provisional or absolute pardons and certificates of rehabilitation; it may accept a pardon application five years after a felony conviction (three years after a misdemeanor), or earlier in extraordinary circumstances. Provisional pardons and certificates of rehabilitation relieve barriers to jobs and licenses.

Voting: https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_143.htm ; jury: https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_884.htm ; firearms: https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_952.htm

Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 9-46, 9-46a, 51-217(a)(2), 53a-217, 54-130a, 54-130e

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FAQ

How do you restore your rights after a felony in Connecticut?

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.