The governor and three cabinet officials act as pardon board; governor decides with concurrence of two of those officials. The governor must report pardons and grants to restore civil rights to the legislature. Pardon eligibility begins ten years following completion of sentence. Restoration of rights is also available from the pardon board, with eligibility from five to seven years after completion of sentence, depending on seriousness of offense; firearms restoration is available eight years after completion of sentence. A public hearing is required for pardon, and for restoration of voting rights for more serious offenses. Pardon relieves collateral consequences but may serve as predicate. The pardon process is regular but full pardons have been infrequent in recent years. About 300-400 grants to restore civil rights are made each year.
Restoration of Firearm Rights After Conviction: A National Survey and Recommendations for Reform (Dec. 2025)
Positive Credentials That Limit Risk: A Report on Certificates of Relief (June 2024)
Advancing Second Chances: Clean Slate and Other Record Reforms in 2023 (Jan. 2024)
Accessing SNAP and TANF Benefits after a Drug Conviction: A Survey of State Laws (Dec. 2023)
The Many Roads from Reentry to Reintegration (March 2022)
The Reintegration Report Card
