Restoring Civil Rights After a Felony in New Hampshire

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

Short answer: New Hampshire restores most rights automatically. A person sentenced for a felony loses the right to vote and to seek or hold public office only until release from incarceration, and the discharge document must state that the rights to vote and to hold future office are restored; RSA 607-A:2, 607-A:3, 607-A:5, 500-A:7-a, V, 159:3

Restoring rights after a felony	New Hampshire restores most rights automatically. A person sentenced for a felony loses the right to vote and to seek or hold public office only until release from incarceration, and the discharge document must state that the rights to vote and to hold future office are restored; otherwise a convicted person keeps all civil rights. For an out-of-state or federal sentence, the governor issues a certificate of restoration on application. Jury service is different: a juror may not have been convicted of any felony unless the conviction has been annulled. Owning or possessing a firearm or other deadly weapon after a felony against a person or property, or a drug felony, is a class B felony. Jury: https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/LI/500-A/500-A-7-a.htm; firearms: https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/XII/159/159-3.htm. Class penalties from RSA 651:2 (class A felony up to 15 years; class B felony up to 7 years; felony fine up to $4,000; class A misdemeanor up to 1 year and $2,000; class B misdemeanor fine up to $1,200; violation fine up to $1,000). Source: RSA 607-A:2, 607-A:3, 607-A:5, 500-A:7-a, V, 159:3

Restoring rights after a felony

New Hampshire restores most rights automatically. A person sentenced for a felony loses the right to vote and to seek or hold public office only until release from incarceration, and the discharge document must state that the rights to vote and to hold future office are restored; otherwise a convicted person keeps all civil rights. For an out-of-state or federal sentence, the governor issues a certificate of restoration on application. Jury service is different: a juror may not have been convicted of any felony unless the conviction has been annulled. Owning or possessing a firearm or other deadly weapon after a felony against a person or property, or a drug felony, is a class B felony.

Jury: https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/LI/500-A/500-A-7-a.htm; firearms: https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/XII/159/159-3.htm. Class penalties from RSA 651:2 (class A felony up to 15 years; class B felony up to 7 years; felony fine up to $4,000; class A misdemeanor up to 1 year and $2,000; class B misdemeanor fine up to $1,200; violation fine up to $1,000).

Source: RSA 607-A:2, 607-A:3, 607-A:5, 500-A:7-a, V, 159:3

More New Hampshire criminal law

FAQ

How do you restore your rights after a felony in New Hampshire?

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.