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Battling Collateral Consequences: The Long Road To Redemption, Joann M. Sahl

Akron Law Faculty Publications

Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour issued 193 controversial pardons on January 10, 2012, his last day in office. Former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, who left office in January 2011, also faced criticism when he granted 280 pardons. Both governors publicly acknowledged that they granted most of their pardons to rehabilitated ex-offenders who sought to overcome the civil consequences of their criminal convictions. These consequences, known as collateral consequences, impede the ability of millions of ex-offenders to find employment, housing or other important benefits.

This Article explores the increasingly important, but controversial, role that governors play in the battleground of collateral consequences. …