{"id":137,"date":"2026-10-23T15:12:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-23T15:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/illinoispardonlawyer.com\/?p=137"},"modified":"2026-08-31T15:17:46","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T15:17:46","slug":"can-my-arresting-orricer-testify-for-me-at-my-pardon-hearing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/illinoispardonlawyer.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/23\/can-my-arresting-orricer-testify-for-me-at-my-pardon-hearing\/","title":{"rendered":"Can my Arresting Officer Testify for me at my Pardon Hearing?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many years ago, you couldn\u2019t stay out of trouble. But as you grew into a responsible adult, the arresting officer came to appreciate your progress. Against all odds, you have actually become friendly. Now the officer is supporting your petition for a pardon.&nbsp; Can he or she write a letter to the Illinois Prisoner Review Board on your behalf?&nbsp; Or better yet, testify?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Illinois, the answer is yes.&nbsp; As a matter of fact, it is not uncommon for police officers to maintain some kind of a relationship with the people they once arrested, particularly in smaller towns.&nbsp; If the officer is willing, they can write a character reference letter on your behalf or testify at your pardon hearing.&nbsp; It will not guarantee your success, but it is a great start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In some cases, even judges have written in support of the defendant they previously convicted and sentenced.&nbsp; If you think they are willing to help, you might even try approaching your sentencing judge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you have questions about Illinois pardons or other executive clemency, feel free to contact attorney Matt Keenan at 847-568-0160 or <a href=\"mailto:matt@mattkeenanlaw.com\">matt@mattkeenanlaw.com<\/a>.&nbsp; An attorney can help you prepare your petition and present you and your witnesses at hearing in their most favorable light. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Many years ago, you couldn\u2019t stay out of trouble. But as you grew into a responsible adult, the arresting officer came to appreciate your progress. Against all odds, you have actually become friendly. Now the officer is supporting your petition for a pardon.&nbsp; Can he or she write a letter to the Illinois Prisoner Review &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/illinoispardonlawyer.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/23\/can-my-arresting-orricer-testify-for-me-at-my-pardon-hearing\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Can my Arresting Officer Testify for me at my Pardon Hearing?<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[13,12,11],"class_list":["post-137","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pardon-hearing","tag-character-reference-letters","tag-police-officer-testimony","tag-testimony"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Can my Arresting Officer Testify for me at my Pardon Hearing? 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