Erie Pardon Project
& PLSE National Pardon Project Steering Committee

I'm an American Bar Endowment Pardon Fellow and organizing member of the Erie County Pardon Project. The Pardon Project of Erie County was created to assist qualified ex-offenders (and their families) in our community with filing out the pardon application and navigating the pardon process so they can move forward in their lives. A pardon is a powerful tool for people who deserve a second chance. In Pennsylvania, the pardon process is free and more accessible than ever before.​​

Pennsylvania is leading the nation in pardon reform. The application for a pardon is free, a lawyer is not necessary, and over 80% of the people going before the PA Board of Pardons actually end up with a pardon! Over ten years, pardons brought over 16.5 million dollars in higher wages into communities all across the state. Erie deserves its fair share!

If you have ever pled guilty or been convicted of a state crime in Pennsylvania, you should consider applying for a pardon (total forgiveness by the state that allows the court, state police, and FBI to erase your record) or commutation (reduction of a prison or parole sentence currently being served by an applicant).  

If you or someone you know is interested in pursuing a pardon or commutation, please download and complete our Intake Application and return it to me at: PardonMeErie@gmailcom. Feel free to send any questions  you have to that email address, also. I will respond to your email within 24-48 hours. In the meantime, you might find the answer to your question here: Board of Pardons

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Youth Leadership of Erie 

Photo by Sarah Howard

In 2022,  I earned a Public Service Award for my service as instructor for Youth Leadership of Erie's Lead or Follow curriculum. The ​Youth Leadership Institute of Erie is a youth development and education program I wish I had been exposed to during my formative years.  

Antonio Howard (left) and Edison Nicholson, founder of Youth Leadership of Erie (right). (Photo by Larry Moyer)

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Erie Participatory Defense

I'm an organizing member of Erie Participatory Defense. Participatory Defense is a community organizing model for people facing charges, their families, and communities to impact the outcomes of cases and transform the landscape of power in the court  system.  Participatory Defense is guided by three principles: 

• ​FAMILY and COMMUNITY STRENGTH can play a pivotal role in stopping and reducing incarceration for a loved one and a community.​
• Families and communities can be even more powerful when taking the role of ORGANIZER AND AGENT OF CHANGE, rather than service recipient. ​
• By working on individual cases, communities can BUILD THE MOVEMENT of directly impacted peoples to hold the actors of the court accountable, make systemic change, and ultimately end mass incarceration.

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Jefferson Educational Society Civic Leadership Academy

Photo by Antonio Howard

I am a graduate of the Jefferson Civic Leadership Academy's 2021 Cohort .

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Opportunities Unlimited of Erie Outstanding Achievement Award

I am the recipient of Opportunities Unlimited of Erie Outstanding Achievement Award.