Minnesota offers people who have been convicted of a crime under state law the opportunity to receive a pardon of their conviction or a commutation of their sentence. A pardon is an act of forgiveness that has the effect of setting aside a conviction and lifting many of its lingering consequences. A commutation is the substitution of a lesser punishment for the original sentence imposed by a court.
The Minnesota Board of Pardons (Board), which consists of the Governor, the Minnesota Attorney General, and the Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court, may grant a pardon or commutation to individuals who meet basic eligibility requirements set forth in state law. To receive a pardon or commutation, the Governor and at least one other Board member must vote in favor of clemency. The Board holds two public meetings each year, typically in the fall/winter and spring/summer, to consider and vote on eligible clemency applications.
The Board of Pardons meets quarterly. For information about dates and times of the Board of Pardons and Clemency Review Commission meetings, please visit our meetings page.
