For Commutation

A commutation is changing a criminal sentence to be less severe. Examples of the relief a commutation provides include reducing the amount of time someone is in prison, on supervised release, or on probation.

The person requesting a commutation must explain why they are a good candidate for a commutation. In Minnesota, the Clemency Review Commission considers the request and makes a recommendation to the Board of Pardons about whether the pardon should be approved or denied. The Board of Pardons then makes the decision to grant or deny the pardon with consideration of the Commission’s recommendation.

Eligibility
Application and Instructions
What to Expect After You Apply

Eligibility

To be eligible for a commutation:
- You must have been convicted of a crime in a Minnesota state court and your sentence must be active. This includes someone who is currently:
  - in jail or prison,
  - on probation, supervised release, or another type of post-conviction supervision
- It must be at least five years since the date of conviction, or you must have served at least one-half of the sentence. You are eligible to apply when the first of these dates has passed. If you can show there is a special need or unusual circumstances, you may apply for a waiver of the waiting period.
Application and Instructions

To request a commutation, you must complete an application and send it to the Clemency Review Commission. On the application, you must list all of your criminal convictions. This includes federal crimes and crimes in other states or places. You may include letters of support or documents that show why you are a good candidate for a commutation. Please do not send more than six letters of support.
The public will see what you write in your application and any other documents you send.
- Application for Commutation
What to Expect After You Apply

Clemency Review Commission staff will look at your application to make sure it is complete. They will also determine if you are eligible to apply. Staff will let you know if you are not eligible or if your application is not complete. If you are eligible to apply, staff will give you a tentative hearing date, time, and location.

If you are eligible, Commission staff will look at court and law enforcement records to verify the information in your application. They will also get prison records to include in your file. Commission staff will contact the attorney who prosecuted the case and the judge who gave the sentence to ask if they support a commutation. If there were any victims of the crime, they will be asked whether they support or do not support a commutation.

When Commission staff have gathered all the information, they will write a summary for the nine members of the Commission. Staff will send a copy of the summary to you and confirm the date, time, and location of the hearing. You must attend the hearing in person or virtually through Zoom.

At the hearing, you will have an opportunity tell the Commission members why you are a good candidate for a commutation. You may invite people to speak in support of your application but your time to present to the Commission will not be extended. If there was a victim, the victim has a right to speak at the hearing. The Commission will ask questions of you and other testifiers. At the end of your hearing, the Commission will vote on whether to recommend that the Board of Pardons grant or deny your pardon request.

Within 14 days of the hearing, the Commission’s recommendation will be sent to the Board of Pardons. The Board meets at least two times per year. Only the Board of Pardons has the authority to grant or deny a pardon. If at least two of the three Board members, including the governor, vote in favor of your pardon, it will be granted. If the governor votes no or is the only Board member who votes yes, the pardon will be denied.

You do not have to attend the Board meeting unless the Board and Commission ask to hold another hearing. You will be notified of the Board’s decision within 14 days after the meeting.