Maine-Pardon

The governor’s constitutional pardon power is subject to regulation “relative to the manner of applying,” but the only regulation relates to the applicant’s obligation to notify the prosecutor and post a notice in the newspaper in county of conviction prior to a hearing.  The governor is advised by a non-statutory advisory board that he appoints.  Eligibility begins five years after completion of sentence; public hearings are held at regular intervals, and the board makes confidential recommendations to governor after an investigation by the Department of Corrections. Pardon relieves all legal disabilities and evidences rehabilitation, and results in the record being given the same degree of confidentiality as a non-conviction record.  Pardons have been infrequent and the process irregular in recent years.