For a Pardon

A pardon sets aside a criminal conviction, restoring a person’s rights and removing many consequences of that conviction.

The person requesting a pardon must explain why they are a good candidate for a pardon. 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.

Eligibility
Application and Instructions
What to Expect After You Apply

Eligibility

To be eligible for a pardon:
- You must have been convicted of a crime in a Minnesota state court.
  - This includes felonies and misdemeanors.
  - If the charges were dismissed or you were never convicted, there is no crime to pardon.
  - Juvenile delinquency and petty misdemeanors are not considered crimes so you cannot apply for a pardon for these offenses.
- It must be at least five years since the expiration or discharge date of the sentence. If five years have not passed, you may request to waive of the initial five-year waiting period.
You must not have been denied a pardon or commutation within the past five years. If five years have not passed since your most recent clemency request, you must request to reapply early.
Application and Instructions

To request a pardon, you must complete an application and send it to the Clemency Review Commission. On the application, you must list all 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 pardon. 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 Pardon
What to Expect After You Apply

The 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, you will receive a letter with a tentative hearing date, time, and location.

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

When CRC staff have gathered all the information, they will provide a summary of your application to the nine members of the Commission. You will receive a copy of the summary and a letter confirming 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 pardon. 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 or Commission requests an additional hearing on your application. You will be notified of the Board’s decision within 14 days after the meeting.