An RM petition is a formal request filed with a court or state agency asking the government to give back the civil rights you lost because of a felony conviction. “RM” is the case-type code some court docket systems use for restoration motions. The filing targets specific rights, usually voting, jury service, firearm possession, and the ability to hold public office. It does not erase your conviction, reduce your sentence, or clear your criminal record. It unlocks particular rights, nothing more.
Different jurisdictions call this filing different things. You may see “petition for restoration of civil rights,” “certificate of restoration,” or a route folded into the state pardon system. The underlying purpose is the same across labels.
Which Rights a Restoration Petition Covers
A felony conviction suspends several rights that most people never think about until they lose them. The ones a petition typically addresses:
- Voting. Most states revoke voting rights during incarceration, and many extend the suspension through parole and probation.
- Jury service. Felony convictions disqualify you from jury duty in nearly every jurisdiction, and getting that right back usually requires a petition or a pardon.
- Firearm possession. Federal law prohibits anyone convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year of imprisonment from possessing firearms or ammunition, separate from any state prohibition.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. U.S. Code Title 18 – Section 922
- Holding public office. Many states bar people with felony convictions from running for or holding elected office until rights are formally restored.
Firearm rights sit at an awkward intersection. Even if a state restores your right to possess a gun, the federal prohibition under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) stays in place unless you obtain separate federal relief, an expungement, or a pardon. Treat state and federal firearm restoration as two different problems with two different solutions.
When You Don’t Need to File Anything
Before preparing an RM petition, check whether you actually need one. In many states, voting rights return automatically once you finish your full sentence, including parole and probation. You re-register to vote; you don’t file paperwork.2National Conference of State Legislatures. Restoration of Voting Rights for Felons A few states never revoke voting rights at all.
Other rights almost always require a formal filing, a pardon, or both. Jury service, firearm possession, and the right to hold office rarely come back on their own. Some states also require a petition for voting restoration when the underlying conviction involved certain serious offenses, and some impose post-sentence waiting periods on top of that.2National Conference of State Legislatures. Restoration of Voting Rights for Felons
The practical move: look up your state’s rules for each specific right before assuming you need to file. You may already have some rights back.
Who Is Eligible to File
Eligibility rules vary, but most jurisdictions share a common checklist. You generally need to meet all of these before a court will consider the petition:
- Your sentence is fully complete. Incarceration, probation, parole, and any supervised release must all be finished. Courts typically will not accept a petition while you’re still under any form of supervision.
- Your financial obligations are satisfied. Fines, court fees, and restitution must be paid. Some jurisdictions accept a current payment plan; many require payment in full.
- Any waiting period has run. These range from roughly two years for lower-level felonies to ten years or more for violent or sexual offenses. Some jurisdictions impose no waiting period for certain rights.
- You have no pending charges. An open case will almost certainly disqualify you, and a new conviction during the waiting period typically resets the clock.
- You file in the right place. Usually that’s the jurisdiction where you were convicted or where you now live, and some states require a minimum period of residency.
Certain convictions face longer waits or permanent ineligibility for specific rights. Violent offenses, sexual offenses, and crimes involving children frequently fall into this category, especially for firearm restoration.
Preparing the Petition
A clean petition starts with gathering documents before you touch the forms. Most jurisdictions ask for the same core materials:
- Government-issued photo ID, your full legal name, date of birth, and current address.
- Conviction details for every conviction on your record: specific charge, date of conviction, sentencing court, case number, and sentence imposed.
- Proof of sentence completion: discharge papers from probation or parole, documentation from the department of corrections showing your release date, and receipts or court records confirming that all fines, fees, and restitution are paid.
- An official criminal history report from your state law enforcement agency, or from the FBI if federal records are involved.
Petition forms usually come from the clerk of court in the relevant county or from the state court system’s website. Some states route restoration filings through a pardon board or a specific state agency instead of the courts, so confirm the correct destination before you file.
Character Evidence That Actually Helps
Many jurisdictions encourage or require evidence of rehabilitation, and this is where a petition stops being paperwork and starts being persuasion. Character reference letters from employers, coworkers, family members, and community leaders carry weight when they are specific. One to three letters, half a page to a full page each, is a reasonable range. The strongest letters come from people who know your criminal history and can describe concrete changes since the conviction. Vague praise does not help.
Supporting evidence can also include proof of steady employment, educational achievements, completion of rehabilitation programs, and volunteer work.
Filing and What Happens Next
You file the petition with the clerk of court in the correct county, or with whichever state agency handles restoration where you live. A filing fee is almost always required at submission; amounts vary widely, and some courts offer fee waivers for petitioners who can show financial hardship.
After filing, one of two things happens. Some jurisdictions decide the petition on the papers alone and send a written decision. Others schedule a hearing where you appear before a judge, who may ask about your rehabilitation and future plans. The prosecutor’s office is often allowed to object, and victims of the original offense may have the right to be heard.
Timelines run from a few weeks in administrative jurisdictions to several months when a hearing is required. You will receive written notification of the outcome.
Restoration, Expungement, and Pardons Are Not the Same Thing
These three remedies are routinely confused, and the differences change what shows up on a background check.
- Restoration of rights returns specific civil rights but leaves the conviction fully visible on your record. You regain civic participation, not a clean history.
- Expungement or record sealing removes or hides the conviction from public records. After expungement you can generally answer “no” when asked whether you’ve been convicted, though certain government agencies may still access the sealed record. Expungement is typically harder to obtain than restoration, and not all offenses qualify.
- A pardon is an act of official forgiveness from the governor for state convictions or the president for federal convictions. A pardon does not erase the conviction, but it signals government forgiveness and usually restores civil rights as a byproduct.
These remedies are not mutually exclusive. You might restore your rights first and pursue expungement later if your state allows it.
What Restoration Will Not Do
Getting your rights back is meaningful, but set your expectations. Restoration does not expunge, seal, or remove the conviction from your record. The felony will still appear on standard background checks, and employers, landlords, and licensing agencies will still see it.
Many states and cities have “ban the box” laws that limit when in the hiring process an employer can ask about criminal history, but those laws operate independently of your restoration status. The Federal Trade Commission advises job seekers to check local rules on what employers can ask and when.3Consumer Advice (Federal Trade Commission). Employer Background Checks and Your Rights Restored rights may help with professional licensing in some states, where certificates of restoration must be considered by licensing boards, but help is not a guarantee of approval.
If a federal firearm prohibition is your real concern, be aware that state restoration generally will not override 18 U.S.C. § 922(g). Congress created a federal relief mechanism under 18 U.S.C. § 925(c) that lets prohibited individuals apply to the Attorney General for relief. The program was dormant for decades because Congress blocked its funding, and the Department of Justice restarted it in early 2026.4Federal Register. Granting of Relief; Federal Firearms Privileges The standard is demanding: you must show you won’t be dangerous to public safety and that restoration wouldn’t be contrary to the public interest.
If Your Petition Is Denied
A denial is not the end. Most jurisdictions let you refile after a waiting period, commonly one to two years. The court’s decision often states its reasons, which gives you a roadmap for the next attempt. Frequent reasons for denial include insufficient time since sentence completion, unresolved financial obligations, new arrests or charges during the waiting period, and thin evidence of rehabilitation.
Use the time before your next filing. Continued education, steady employment, a clean record, and stronger character evidence all improve your chances. An attorney can help with both the paperwork and the presentation at a hearing, which matters more than many petitioners expect.