An independent board appointed by governor unilaterally grants pardon except for crimes involving serious violence and drugs, which must be approved by the governor. The reasons for each pardon must be filed with Secretary of State. Eligibility begins three years after completion of sentence for non-violent offenses and after five years for violent offenses. An extensive application process and full hearing is required. Pardon relieves legal disabilities, including firearms rights, but is not grounds for expungement. The pardon process is regular, and a high percentage of those that apply are granted.
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
