Can a rhode island felon regain rights?

Answer 1

To request an expungement of your STATE criminal record: You must have either been acquited or served the complete term of your sentence - then submit a petition to the court setting forth good reason(s) why your request should be granted. A judge will review your petition and the circumstances of your case and issue a ruling either granting or denying the request. AN EXPUNGEMENT IS NOT A PARDON! Law enforcement, the courts, and government agencies will always have access to your actual 'true' record. Expungement only removes the record of your offense from being viewed by the public. FELONS CONVICTED IN STATE COURT OF STATE CRIMES: If your request for expungement is granted and you are a resident of a state which completely or partially restores your "rights" (you will have to do research to learn if this applies to your particular state), you will still remain subject to any restrictions that your state laws place on you (e.g.- voting rights - holding elective office - firearms/ammunition possession - etc). CAUTION: FEDERALLY CONVICTED FELONS: It remains a FEDERAL felony offense for a federally convicted felon to ever own or possess a firearm. The U.S. Criminal Code, makes the penalty for illegal possession of a firearm in prison in some cases a mandatory minimum of fifteen (15) years in prison (Title 18 U.S.C. sec 924(e)(1). At this time federally convicted felons have no solution to their firearm disqualification problems. By denying funding, Congress has effectively suspended the review of federally convicted felons' petitions for restoration of their firearms privileges.