Board schedules full hearings and denies petitions after contested pre‑screen reviews
July 06, 2026 | Board of Pardons and Paroles, Departments and Agencies, Organizations, Executive, Connecticut
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After completing an expedited slate of pardons and a COE, the Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles on July 6 moved to its pre‑screen docket and decided which petitions should be scheduled for full hearings and which should be denied.
Several petitioners were advanced to a full hearing to allow victim outreach and fuller review. The board said these pre‑screen matters often involve more recent or more serious offenses or cases where protective orders or multiple victims require additional fact finding.
The panel voted to grant a full hearing for Tyreek Marie Atkins despite the chair’s dissent; one board member described a recent arrest on March 29, 2026 and said they were opposed to a pardon now, while other members said they wanted to hear from the applicant and conduct victim outreach.
The board denied the petition of James Collazo. Board members cited minimization of responsibility in Collazo’s application and the seriousness of his offenses; the panel recorded reasons 9 and 12 for denial (minimization of responsibility and that expungement would inappropriately diminish the seriousness of the offenses). The transcript includes board remarks that the applicant sent extensive threatening messages to a victim, which the board cited in explanation for the denial.
Another denial recorded in the pre‑screen review was for Kenneth Edwards, where at least one member cited the seriousness of the offenses and multiple victims; a polygraph administered in that case was discussed by members but did not overcome concerns about repeated victim harm.
Why it matters: The pre‑screen process is the board’s filter for cases requiring victim notice and fuller testimony. Scheduling a full hearing preserves victim participation and allows the board to collect additional evidence before making a final determination about record erasure.
Next steps: Board staff will notify petitioners of whether they have been scheduled for a full hearing or denied; for scheduled hearings the board will conduct victim outreach and set hearing dates. Applicants denied at pre‑screen will receive written notice of the reasons for denial.
Sources: Board discussion and recorded motions during the July 6, 2026 meeting of the Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles.
Several petitioners were advanced to a full hearing to allow victim outreach and fuller review. The board said these pre‑screen matters often involve more recent or more serious offenses or cases where protective orders or multiple victims require additional fact finding.
The panel voted to grant a full hearing for Tyreek Marie Atkins despite the chair’s dissent; one board member described a recent arrest on March 29, 2026 and said they were opposed to a pardon now, while other members said they wanted to hear from the applicant and conduct victim outreach.
The board denied the petition of James Collazo. Board members cited minimization of responsibility in Collazo’s application and the seriousness of his offenses; the panel recorded reasons 9 and 12 for denial (minimization of responsibility and that expungement would inappropriately diminish the seriousness of the offenses). The transcript includes board remarks that the applicant sent extensive threatening messages to a victim, which the board cited in explanation for the denial.
Another denial recorded in the pre‑screen review was for Kenneth Edwards, where at least one member cited the seriousness of the offenses and multiple victims; a polygraph administered in that case was discussed by members but did not overcome concerns about repeated victim harm.
Why it matters: The pre‑screen process is the board’s filter for cases requiring victim notice and fuller testimony. Scheduling a full hearing preserves victim participation and allows the board to collect additional evidence before making a final determination about record erasure.
Next steps: Board staff will notify petitioners of whether they have been scheduled for a full hearing or denied; for scheduled hearings the board will conduct victim outreach and set hearing dates. Applicants denied at pre‑screen will receive written notice of the reasons for denial.
Sources: Board discussion and recorded motions during the July 6, 2026 meeting of the Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles.
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