On April 4, 2015, Mr. Henry Earl Irvin (40) received the phone call for which he had waited over two decades—the Office of the Governor was on the line to inform Mr. Irvin that his pardon had been approved.

“A gubernatorial pardon is an honor that may be granted to people who have demonstrated exemplary behavior following their conviction.”

In 1994, Mr. Irvin plead guilty to dissuading a witness, a felony. Mr. Irvin ended up incarcerated for over two years because of issues related to the case.

Released in 1997, Mr. Irvin set out to start the long process of seeking a pardon for his crime. Despite sending letters to former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office nearly every day for a year, Mr. Irvin never heard any news about his request.

Mr. Irvin persisted on his own—without the assistance of a lawyer—in seeking a pardon. Mr. Irvin’s story is not just one about luck, but about overcoming hardship and not giving up on a dream.

Shortly before he was released in 1997, Mr. Irvin met a counselor who helped him enroll in college. Mr. Irvin went on to earn his bachelor’s degree, becoming the first in his family to do so.

Today, Mr. Irvin is working toward becoming a youth probation officer to helped at-risk youth, seeking to give back to a community similar to the one in which he grew up.

While a pardon does not seal one’s former case, it does put one back on the path of reintegration in society.

As illustrated by Mr. Irvin’s matter, criminal convictions have life-altering consequences. If you or someone you know is being charged with a crime, contact the Law Office of Ronald G. Brower to speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney.