The pardon power is vested in the governor, but the legislature may control the process. The governor must report pardons, with reasons, to the legislature. Prior to March 2015, the governor could issue a pardon only upon the favorable recommendation of the board of pardons and parole, but the board’s role in clemency cases has been converted by constitutional amendment to an advisory one. While the governor is still required by statute to premise action on a board recommendation, after a hearing, that recommendation is no longer binding. There are no formal eligibility criteria. A pardon removes legal consequences of conviction and is grounds for expungement. Pardons are infrequently recommended by the board and even less frequently granted by the governor.
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
