The state-level charges, formally unveiled late on Monday, also cannot be pardoned by Georgia’s governor under the state’s constitution. Instead, the southern US state has an independent board that issues pardons, but such requests can only be made five years after a sentence is served.

  • Nougat@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    From the horses mouth, so to speak:

    https://pap.georgia.gov/parole-consideration/pardons-restoration-rights

    To qualify for a Pardon for offenses other than sex offenses which require you to be listed on Georgia’s Sex Offender Registry:

    ● You must have completed all sentence(s) at least five (5) years prior to applying.

    ● You must have lived a law-abiding life during the five (5) years prior to applying.

    ● You cannot have any pending charges.

    ● All fines must be paid in full.

    • NoStressyJessie@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      1 year ago

      So basically you can’t get a pardon for a trumped up life sentence until 5 years after you die?

      Something tells me they were thinking about a VERY SPECIFIC demographic when they wrote those laws and they never imagined THIS PARTICULAR VERY SPECIFIC demographic would be held to the same kind of standard.

      • MisterRoboto@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Up until 2019, South Carolina elected it’s national guard general. They passed that law in 1886, you know, just in case someone from a demographic that’s very specific, was appointed by the governor who could potentially be of the same demographic.

        Being racist sounds like it’s utterly exhausting.

      • Nougat@kbin.social
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        1 year ago

        So basically you can’t get a pardon for a trumped up life sentence until 5 years after you die?

        That would have to be correct, although it is the Pardon and Parole Board, so there may be some other definition for “completed all sentence(s)” which would consider having gotten parole as a completion of the prison sentence.

        Still, I remain confused about the purpose of GA laws around pardon. You’ve already served your sentence, receiving a pardon means you admit guilt (does it? in Georgia?) - so what even is the point of a pardon in GA?

  • athos77@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    While this is true, I absolutely believe that there are people who are scheming out ways to change this [regulation / law / policy / whatever].

    • ares35@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      the establishment of the state board of pardons and paroles, and its duties, are part of the state constitution (art iv, sec ii). the bit about them only being able to act after conviction is, also. the rest (except regarding violent offenders. life sentences, etc) is only policy or legislative and absolutely a target.