The governor’s constitutional power is subject to regulation in the manner of applying, and the governor must report all grants to the legislature each year, with reasons for each. Before acting favorably on an application, the governor must seek the views of the district attorney, sentencing judge, and prosecuting attorney. The department of corrections is informally responsible for administering the pardon power, and the governor is advised by a non-statutory 7-member board of appointees, including corrections and law enforcement officials. Applications are generally not accepted until 10 years after completion of sentence, and there is no hearing. Pardon restores civil and firearms rights, signals rehabilitation and good character, but does not authorize sealing.
Until the final 18 months of Gov. Hickenlooper’s term (2017-18), the pardon power had not been functioning in Colorado in a meaningful fashion for many years. His successor Jared Polis has issued almost 100 pardons in the four years since he reconstituted the advisory board in 2019, as well as several dozen commutations.
