Allentown – The first state pardon obtained by a Lehigh County resident through the Lehigh County Pardon Project went to a woman whose 1990s drug charges are now erased from the public record and will no longer pose an obstacle to her efforts to move on with her life.

Joel Figueroa, part-time coordinator for the Lehigh County Pardon Project in the Office of the Public Defender, said the woman, who will remain anonymous, was “thrilled” when the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons on June 12 agreed to forward her pardon request to the Governor’s Office for approval.

The pardon process typically can take years. The woman’s case took only two because the board deemed her application eligible for expedited review, Figueroa said.

Figueroa’s group is one of more than 30 county chapters of the Pardon Project, which began in 2017 as an initiative of Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity. The Lehigh County position was added to the public defender’s office in 2024.

People whose convictions for non-violent crimes are at least five years old are eligible to seek pardons. People who serve time often have trouble finding work or housing when they are released, because criminal convictions are flagged in background checks. A pardon eliminates that possibility.

Pennsylvania’s Clean Slate program can also help ex-offenders, but because it only seals records, they are still available to law enforcement and some employers.

The pardon process is free and doesn’t require an attorney.

“This meant everything to her,” said Kimberly Makoul, Lehigh County’s chief public defender, who said the woman was nervous going into the hearing because of its potential to change her life for the better. “It’s just a wonderful thing, and there is a ton of interest.”

Figueroa’s role is to show eligible people how to apply, then coach them through the process. This can include watching previous pardon hearings to see how other cases are evaluated.

Figueroa said remorse and accountability are the most important factors in obtaining a pardon.

Applicants “talk about how they have changed their lives and why they need a pardon,” he said, adding that two dozen county residents are currently seeking pardons.

Lehigh County Executive Joshua Siegel, who worked to strengthen Clean Slate legislation during his term in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, said it is important for people who have served time to be able to leave that part of their lives behind for good.

“People who have paid their debts should not have a permanent shadow hanging over them,” he said. “We should never put obstacles in the way of someone trying to find a job and housing and make positive contributions to society. I commend the Public Defender’s Office and Lehigh County Pardon Project for their hard work and trust this pardon will be the first of many.”

Reporters interested in writing about the pardon process are invited to contact Figueroa at joelfigueroa@lehighcounty.org

More information about the Pardon Project is available at www.papardonproject.org/lehigh

 

Information provided to TVL by:
Daniel Sheehan