{"id":189,"date":"2026-10-30T16:45:44","date_gmt":"2026-10-30T16:45:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/illinoispardonlawyer.com\/?p=189"},"modified":"2026-10-26T16:58:38","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T16:58:38","slug":"can-an-offenders-youth-help-win-a-commutation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/illinoispardonlawyer.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/30\/can-an-offenders-youth-help-win-a-commutation\/","title":{"rendered":"CAN AN OFFENDER’S YOUTH HELP WIN A COMMUTATION?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Depending on certain factors, an offender’s youth can be a factor in favor of commutation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your son was arrested for a major offense when he was young.  He had always been a good son who did well in school, but he got mixed up with a rough crowd and ended up with a felony conviction and prison sentence before he turned 19.  Can his age at the time of the offense help you win a commutation?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The answer in Illinois is yes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commuting a sentence means you are seeking your son\u2019s (or daughter\u2019s) early release from a sentence imposed by a judge.\u00a0 In some cases, the sentence might be unduly harsh.\u00a0 Even if it is not, when a defendant is convicted at a youthful age, there is always a possibility that an early release can be secured.\u00a0 For one thing, scientific research now confirms that the human brain does not fully mature until the early twenties.\u00a0 In addition, many young people are subjected to undue influences from social media and friends, as well as gangs that prey on teenagers, that they may later outgrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you wish to commute your child\u2019s sentence, you will need to file a petition with the Illinois Prisoner Review Board, who will then hold a hearing, if requested, and make a recommendation to the governor.\u00a0 A number of critical questions may pop up.\u00a0 Is your son or daughter accepting responsibility for what happened? Has much of the sentence already been served? Is the victim–or his or her survivors–likely to object?\u00a0 Is there a plan for what your child will do and where they will live if a commutation is granted?\u00a0 An experienced attorney can help you answer those questions, prepare your petition to tell a compelling life story as well as represent your child at a hearing before the Board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have questions about this or another related Illinois criminal or traffic matter, please contact Matt Keenan at 847-568-0160 or email matt@mattkeenanlaw.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Besides Skokie, Matt Keenan also serves the communities of Arlington Heights, Chicago, Deerfield, Des Plaines, Evanston, Glenview, Morton Grove, Mount Prospect, Niles, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Rolling Meadows, Wilmette and Winnetka.)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Depending on certain factors, an offender’s youth can be a factor in favor of commutation. Your son was arrested for a major offense when he was young.  He had always been a good son who did well in school, but he got mixed up with a rough crowd and ended up with a felony conviction … Continue reading CAN AN OFFENDER’S YOUTH HELP WIN A COMMUTATION?<\/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":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-189","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-commutation"],"yoast_head":"\nCAN AN OFFENDER'S YOUTH HELP WIN A COMMUTATION? - Illinois Pardon Lawyer<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Depending on certain factors, an offender's youth can be a factor in favor of commutation. 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