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of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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    How to Apply for Clemency

    Anyone seeking clemency in Pennsylvania must apply through the Board of Pardons.

    Apply for clemency

    Apply for clemency

    If you have been convicted of a crime, you may apply for clemency to request forgiveness or reduce the legal penalty or punishment. If the Governor grants you clemency, your conviction(s) will be expunged, or your sentence(s) may be reduced.

    Apply for clemency

    What do I need to apply? 

    Your application for clemency requires personal details as well as court documents and information about the convictions you are requesting clemency for.

    Prepare your application

    Apply for expedited review

    Applicants whose convictions are for older, non-violent crimes may qualify for an expedited application process when requesting clemency.

    Apply for an expedited review

    What are the steps of the clemency process?

    It can take a few years for a decision to be made on your clemency application. We’re here to guide you through the start-to-finish process.

    Explore the steps of the process