Second Chance Firm tops 400 pardon applications

Corey Brinson’s Second Chance Firm says it has helped prepare, file and win more than 400 pardon applications for people with conviction histories. The Hartford-based firm is expanding its reach across Connecticut and beyond as it pushes pardon relief as a path to jobs, housing and civic participation.

Why it matters: - Second Chance Firm says its pardon work is helping people clear barriers tied to criminal records. - Connecticut absolute pardons can remove obstacles to employment, housing, licensing, education, business opportunities and civic participation. - The firm’s growth points to continued demand for pardon assistance from people seeking a formal second chance.

What happened: - Corey J. Brinson, founder and president of Second Chance Firm, announced that the firm has helped prepare, file and secure grants in more than 400 pardon applications. - The announcement was made July 7, 2026, from Hartford, Connecticut. - Second Chance Firm is a Connecticut-based pardon consulting company focused on clients with conviction histories. - The firm’s work has centered on Connecticut pardon applications before the Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles. - Second Chance Firm has also assisted with pardon matters granted in New Jersey and Illinois.

The details: - Second Chance Firm prepares pardon packages that include application preparation, personal statements, reference letters, conviction-record review, police-report review, employment documentation, rehabilitation documentation and strategic guidance. - The firm says its approach emphasizes accountability, rehabilitation, family stability, work history, community support and the client’s personal story of change. - Brinson has his own conviction history and later earned a law degree, an LL.M. in Human Rights and Social Justice and an MBA. - The Second Chance Firm website describes Brinson as “living proof that people are capable of real change” and says he has 20-plus years of experience in the criminal justice system. - Second Chance Firm has offices in Hartford, New Haven and Bridgeport. - The firm offers free consultations for people trying to determine whether they may be eligible for a pardon. - The Hartford headquarters is listed as CityPlace II, 185 Asylum Street, Suite 1502, Hartford, Connecticut. - The main phone number is 1-800-783-0504. - More information is available at the company’s website.

Between the lines: - Brinson is positioning pardon work as both legal relief and a personal redemption story. - The firm’s focus on documentation and narrative suggests a strategy built to show boards more than just eligibility, but evidence of sustained change. - The expansion beyond Connecticut signals that the model may have broader appeal in other states with pardon systems.

What’s next: - Second Chance Firm says it will keep offering consultations, record gathering, hearing preparation and rehabilitation evidence for pardon applicants. - Brinson’s message suggests the firm expects continued demand from people trying to move past old convictions. - The company’s stated mission remains focused on helping clients reclaim opportunities after years of stigma tied to a criminal record.