What is Clemency?
Clemency is any act of mercy or compassion shown toward someone who has committed a crime. The most common types of clemency in Minnesota are pardons and commutations. A pardon is for people whose sentences are complete and no longer active. A commutation is for people that are still serving part of their sentence.
How to Apply
To apply for a pardon or commutation, you must complete an application. Learn more about applying for a pardon or commutation.
Eligibility
For Pardons
People with adult criminal convictions from Minnesota state courts are eligible to apply for pardons five years after their sentence has been discharged or expired. Learn more about being eligible for pardons.
For Commutations
People with adult criminal convictions from Minnesota state courts are eligible to apply for commutations five years after they are convicted (pleaded guilty or were found guilty) or after they have served half of their sentence – whichever comes first. Learn more about being eligible for commutations.
Meeting Statutory Waiting Periods
There are two types of required waiting periods: a waiting period to apply for the first time after a conviction and a waiting period to reapply after you have previously applied for and been denied clemency by the Board of Pardons. Learn more about meeting statutory waiting periods.
What's New?
Clemency Review Commission Calendar Update
The Clemency Review Commission (CRC) is at capacity for 2026 and has scheduled all of it's hearings for this year. The CRC is currently reviewing approximately 160 commutation requests and 400 pardon applications. The CRC will resume scheduling in 2027 after the new administration has been elected, sworn in and has appointed it's commissioners.
The Clemency Review Commission consists of nine members appointed by the Board of Pardons who serve 4-year terms running in parallel with the Governor’s term. The current commissioners’ terms end on January 4, 2027, and require appointment or reappointment by the Governor, Chief Justice, and Attorney General. At this time, we cannot provide a timeline for the appointment process.
The Board of Pardons’ next meeting is December 15, 2026, where it will consider cases heard by the Clemency Review Commission this year. For more information, please sign up for alerts at the bottom of this page.
We Moved!
The Clemency Review Commission's new address is 2550 University Ave. W., Ste. 355-S, St. Paul, MN 55114. Applications and other correspondence can be sent to our new office. To ensure that staff is available, the office is open to the public by appointment only.