What is a pardon, and how do you get one?

A pardon is official forgiveness for a conviction. In most places it does not erase the conviction or the record of it, and it does not mean you were innocent.^1,2,3

The U.S. Department of Justice says a federal pardon removes any unserved part of a sentence and removes civil disabilities that came from the conviction, such as limits on voting, holding state or local office, or serving on a jury. It also says a pardon should lessen the stigma of a conviction and may help with licenses, bonding or employment. But it "does not signify innocence," and the federal conviction and the pardon both stay on the record. Georgia's pardon board and California's courts say the same about state pardons: no expungement, no erasing. A few states do more (see the last section).

Who can grant a pardon depends on which government convicted you. The President handles federal convictions and D.C. Code convictions. For state convictions it may be the governor alone, a board, or a board and the governor together.^{1,2,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12}

Examples from official pages: the Governor decides in California (the Board of Parole Hearings investigates, and a pardon for someone with more than one felony conviction needs the California Supreme Court's approval), New York (the DOCCS Executive Clemency Bureau processes applications) and Virginia. In Pennsylvania the Board of Pardons recommends and the Governor makes the final decision. In Texas the Governor may grant a pardon only on the written recommendation of a majority of the Board of Pardons and Paroles. Louisiana's Governor acts on the Board of Pardons' recommendation, except for an automatic pardon for some first-time felony convictions. In Florida the Governor decides with the agreement of two Cabinet members. In Georgia, Alabama and Connecticut the state board grants or denies the pardon. A pardon from one government does not reach another's convictions: the President cannot pardon a state conviction, and Virginia's and California's governors cannot pardon convictions from other states or federal court. Alabama says its pardon on a federal case is good only in Alabama.

You can apply for a federal pardon if you have a conviction under federal law, the D.C. Code or the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and you live in the U.S. or its territories. Justice Department rules say to wait at least 5 years before filing.^1,13,14

28 CFR 1.2 says no pardon petition should be filed until at least 5 years after your release from confinement or, if you had no prison sentence, at least 5 years after the date of conviction. It adds that, generally, a person on probation, parole or supervised release should not file. The Department says these rules are advisory and the President is not bound by them, and that the President can pardon someone who has not yet been convicted or finished a sentence. Those requests also use the pardon-after-completion form. A federal pardon does not cover state convictions.

To ask for a federal pardon after finishing your sentence, fill out the Office of the Pardon Attorney's pardon form and email or mail it. The office says email is the fastest way.^14,15

The form linked on DOJ's Apply for Clemency page is dated May 2024. It asks for background information, your reasons, your life since the conviction, your case history, a signed oath, a signed release of information, and 3 signed letters of support from people who are not relatives. Email a PDF or Word file to USPardon.Attorney@usdoj.gov, or mail it to the Office of the Pardon Attorney, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20530. A request to pardon a general court-martial conviction goes instead to the military department that had original jurisdiction in the case. The online application on DOJ's page is only for the marijuana possession proclamations, not for a general pardon.

You do not need a lawyer to apply for a federal pardon. DOJ says the process can take months or years, and no outcome is promised.^1,14

DOJ says most people who apply do not have a lawyer. After you apply, the office sends a confirmation letter; the form says to email if you have heard nothing after 3 months. The office may ask for more information and may ask the FBI for a background check, which can include interviews with you, the people who wrote your letters, neighbors and employers. The President makes the decision. There is no hearing and no appeal of a denial. If a pardon request is denied, you may reapply 24 months after the denial. We did not find any application fee listed in the form, its instructions or the FAQ.

A pardon forgives a conviction. A commutation shortens a sentence you are still serving. The two use different forms.^1,15,16

DOJ says a commutation reduces a sentence in whole or in part, but it does not change the conviction, imply innocence or remove civil disabilities. It may also release unpaid fines or restitution. A pardon, by contrast, can remove civil disabilities and unserved parts of a sentence. The commutation form is for people a federal court has sentenced. Under 28 CFR 1.3, a commutation petition should not be filed if other court or administrative relief is available, unless there are exceptional circumstances. If a commutation request is denied, you may reapply after 12 months.

We found no change in 2025 or 2026 to the general federal pardon form or the 5-year waiting rule. Separately, the Justice Department restarted a process to restore federal firearm rights, under a rule effective September 21, 2026.^{13,15,17,18,19}

The pardon-after-completion form on DOJ's page is still the May 2024 version. The eCFR shows no amendment to 28 CFR 1.2 since it was issued in 1993 (Order No. 1798-93), and we found no Federal Register document affecting 28 CFR Part 1 published since 2024. The firearm process is not a pardon: DOJ's final rule (91 FR 54054, published August 20, 2026, effective September 21, 2026) restarts relief from federal firearm bans under 18 U.S.C. 925(c), run by the Office of the Pardon Attorney and opening in stages. Our gun-rights restoration guide covers who can apply, the schedule and the fee. DOJ's Apply for Clemency page also lists a January 20, 2025 proclamation on offenses related to January 6, 2021, with instructions for requesting a certificate.

Georgia

In Georgia, the State Board of Pardons and Paroles grants pardons. For most offenses you must have finished all sentences at least 5 years before applying, lived a law-abiding life during those 5 years, have no pending charges, and have paid all fines.²

The Board says there is no application fee and you do not need an attorney. Since January 2, 2024, applications must be filed electronically. On average it takes about six to nine months and may take longer. Sex offenses that require registration have longer rules, including 10 years and added evaluations. Georgia treats restoring civil and political rights as a separate request with a 2-year wait.

Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, you apply to the Board of Pardons. The Board reviews your application and may hold a public hearing and vote, and the Governor makes the final decision. The Board says a decision can take a few years.^{7,20,21,22,23}

The Board lists no specific eligibility requirements or waiting period for a regular application, but says it helps to show how you have changed. In March 2019 the Board voted to cut its application fee to $0 for applications started on or after March 18, 2019 (announced by the Lieutenant Governor, who chairs the Board). The Board's current pages and its current application list no fee. You apply online, or by PDF sent to bopclemency@pa.gov or mailed to 555 Walnut Street, Suite 704, Harrisburg, PA 17101. Since January 1, 2026, the Board accepts only the application versions posted on its page (the PDF is marked revised May 5, 2025) and rejects older versions. You also need court documents and proof of your financial obligation status. Since 2025 the Board automatically checks every application for expedited review, which depends on the type of offense, the number of cases, and 5, 10 or 15 years since your last contact with the criminal justice system. If denied, you wait 12 months to apply again, or 24 months after a second denial.

Texas

In Texas, the Governor may grant a full pardon only on the written recommendation of a majority of the Board of Pardons and Paroles. A full pardon is open to people with a felony, misdemeanor or traffic conviction, or who finished deferred adjudication community supervision.^{8,24,25,26,27}

The Board says it will not consider a full pardon for someone in prison except in exceptional circumstances. For a pardon after deferred adjudication, you may apply on or after the 10th anniversary of the discharge and dismissal. You send the application by mail, email or in person, and you do not need an attorney. The Clemency Section stops accepting faxes as of September 1, 2026. The Board's pages we read do not state an application fee or a general waiting period for a regular full pardon.

California

In California, the Governor decides pardons. You can apply straight to the Governor, or first get a Certificate of Rehabilitation from a court, which counts as a pardon application. There is no application fee.^3,4,28

The Governor's office says it is not required to consider an application, there is no set timeline, there is no court hearing, and you do not need a lawyer. For a direct pardon you send a 2-page application to pardons@gov.ca.gov (or mail it to 1021 O Street, Suite 9000, Sacramento, CA 95814) and give a Notice of Intent to Apply for Clemency to the district attorney in each county of conviction. The Board of Parole Hearings investigates. A person with more than one felony conviction needs approval from the California Supreme Court. The Governor cannot pardon convictions from other states or federal court.

New York

In New York, the Governor decides clemency. Anyone convicted under New York law can apply for a pardon, but the state says pardons are typically considered only after you have finished everything the court required, and not for very recent convictions.⁵

Applications go to the Executive Clemency Bureau at DOCCS (mail to the Harriman State Campus, Building 4, 1220 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12226-2050, and email a scan to PardonsAndCommutations@doccs.ny.gov if you can). The state's page lists no fixed waiting period for a standard pardon. It says a pardon is generally not considered if other remedies, such as a certificate of good conduct or certificate of relief from disabilities, are available. A separate Youth Pardon is for non-violent convictions at age 16 or 17; it requires at least 10 years since the conviction or release, among other things.

Florida

In Florida, the Governor and two Cabinet members sit as the Clemency Board. Under the Board's rules, you may apply for a pardon only after you have completed all terms of your sentence and waited at least 10 years after finishing its durational parts.^10,29,30

The rules also require no pending charges or detainers, no more than $1,000 owed from misdemeanor or criminal traffic penalties, and no unpaid victim restitution. Someone who has been granted or denied most kinds of clemency may not reapply for at least 2 years. The rules were last revised March 10, 2021. The Florida Commission on Offender Review supports the Board, and says it does not help people expunge or clear records; the Florida Department of Law Enforcement handles that.

Virginia

In Virginia, the Governor decides pardons, and the Secretary of the Commonwealth's pardon page explains how to petition. For a simple pardon, you must be free of all court conditions on every conviction, including probation and suspended time.⁶

A simple pardon is a statement of official forgiveness and does not remove the conviction. You do not need an attorney. The office says it cannot predict how long a petition will take. You cannot appeal a denial, but you may file a new petition. The Governor can pardon only Virginia crimes and does not restore firearm rights; a court does that. As of October 28, 2026, the office says the paper petition form has been updated and anyone filing on paper must use the new version.

Alabama

In Alabama, the Board of Pardons and Paroles has the power to grant or deny a pardon. To be considered, you must have either finished your sentence or served at least 3 years on parole for the sentence you want pardoned.¹¹

You apply with a pardon application and a waiver form, sent by mail to the Pardons Unit or emailed to pardons@paroles.alabama.gov. The Board says it will not estimate how long the investigation takes. If the Board declines, you may not apply again for at least 2 years unless the Board orders otherwise. A pardon generally restores civil and political rights, but the Board may carve out exceptions, such as firearm rights.

Connecticut

In Connecticut, the Board of Pardons and Paroles decides pardons. An absolute pardon erases your Connecticut adult criminal record. You may apply 5 years after your most recent felony conviction and 3 years after your most recent misdemeanor conviction.^12,31

The Board says it charges no application fee, though you pay the State Police for your criminal history report. You cannot have pending charges or open cases, a nolle (a prosecutor's decision not to proceed) in the last 13 months, or be on probation or parole. The Board considers your whole criminal history; you cannot ask to erase one offense and not another. You apply through the Board's ePardon Portal and have 6 months to finish once you start. People with non-violent offenses and no victim interest may get an expedited review without a hearing. The Board's page gives no processing time. Connecticut also offers a Certificate of Employability, for jobs and licensing only, that does not erase convictions.

Louisiana

In Louisiana, the Governor may pardon only on the recommendation of the Board of Pardons, and may not grant a pardon until you have paid the court costs from that conviction. A person with a first felony conviction is pardoned automatically when the sentence is complete.^9,32

State law (La. R.S. 15:572, last amended by Act 660 of 2024, effective August 1, 2024) says a first-time felony conviction is pardoned without a Board recommendation or action by the Governor once the sentence is completed, as long as court costs are paid. A "first offender" here means a person with no earlier felony conviction in Louisiana or anywhere else, and a person can receive the automatic pardon only once. That automatic pardon does not remove sex offense registration, and the law says a person with that pardon may still be charged and punished as a "second or multiple offender" for a later crime. The Board's February 24, 2025 policy says you may not apply for a pardon if you owe more than $1,000 in penalties from any conviction or traffic infraction, or have outstanding detainers. The Governor must notify the attorney general, district attorney, sheriff and victim at least 30 days before granting a pardon.

California certificate

A California Certificate of Rehabilitation is a court order finding that you have been rehabilitated. It does not erase a conviction, but it is sent to the Governor as a pardon application.^{33,34,35,36,37,38}

Penal Code 4852.01 and following let people convicted of a felony petition for one, with limits for certain sex offenses. California's courts say that if you had felony probation, the case must first be dismissed under Penal Code 1203.4. You first need 5 years of continuous California residence plus more years that depend on the offense: 2 more for most offenses, 4 more for offenses such as murder or those with a life sentence, and 5 more for offenses that require sex offense registration. The clock starts when you are discharged or released on parole, probation or supervision, whichever is first. You file in the superior court of the county where you live or were convicted; the courts' guide says there is no filing fee. The court may grant it after a hearing. The Board of Parole Hearings reviews the certificate within a year, and the Governor may then issue a pardon. California's courts say it does not restore gun rights.

New York certificates

New York has two certificates: a Certificate of Relief from Disabilities and a Certificate of Good Conduct. Both can lift automatic bars to jobs and licenses, but neither removes or seals the conviction.^5,39,40,41

You can get a Certificate of Relief if you have any number of misdemeanors and no more than one felony. If you were not sentenced to state prison, the court that convicted you may issue it (Correction Law 702); otherwise DOCCS issues it. DOCCS issues the Certificate of Good Conduct. A Certificate of Good Conduct is open even with more than one felony, after a wait: 5 years if your most serious felony is class A or B, 3 years if class C, D or E, and 1 year if you have only misdemeanors. The wait runs from release or the end of your sentence, or your last conviction, whichever is last. If you have finished your sentence you may apply directly to DOCCS's Certificate Review Unit. You still have to tell employers and licensing agencies about the conviction if they ask, and they may still refuse you.

Illinois

In Illinois, a circuit court can issue a Certificate of Good Conduct that relieves an employment, occupational licensing or housing bar. It does not hide, change or expunge the record.^42,43,44,45

Under 730 ILCS 5/5-5.5-25 and 5-5.5-30, you must show by clear and convincing evidence that you have been law-abiding and are fully rehabilitated, and the court decides after a rehabilitation review. The minimum period of good conduct is 1 year if your most serious conviction is a misdemeanor and 2 years if it is a felony, counted from paying any fine or from release from custody or supervision. The law excludes some convictions, including offenses that would require registration under the Sex Offender Registration Act, the Arsonist Registry Act or the Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registration Act, and arson, kidnapping, aggravated DUI and aggravated domestic battery. A landlord or licensing body keeps full discretion to grant or deny. The section was last amended by Public Act 104-558, effective July 10, 2026.

Ohio

Ohio's Certificate of Qualification for Employment (CQE) lifts automatic job and licensing bars tied to a conviction. The person or agency deciding must still look at your case on its own facts.⁴⁶

Under Ohio Revised Code 2953.25 (effective September 23, 2026), you petition the court of common pleas in your county or the designated office of the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction's Division of Parole and Community Services; if you served a state prison term or were in a department-funded program, you file with that office. You may file after 1 year following release or final release from sanctions for a felony, or 6 months for a misdemeanor. After 3 years (felony) or 1 year (misdemeanor), you are presumed eligible, and a court can deny only on clear and convincing evidence that you have not been rehabilitated. The application fee is $50, plus a local court fee of up to $50, and may be waived with a poverty affidavit. A court must decide within 60 days of a complete petition unless extended. The CQE does not relieve some sanctions, including sex offense registration requirements, certain license suspensions, law enforcement and prosecutor jobs, and some health care license rules.

New Jersey

In New Jersey, the State Parole Board can issue a Certificate Suspending Certain Employment, Occupational Disabilities or Forfeitures, and a separate Certificate of Good Conduct. Both are for people who are or were supervised by the Board.^47,48,49

The first certificate can relieve bars to public employment and to professional or occupational licenses (not the practice of law or law enforcement jobs). It is for people with one qualifying conviction, and convictions more than 10 years before the application do not count. After supervision ends, at least 3 years must have passed and some serious offenses are excluded. A Certificate of Good Conduct is for people the Board supervises now or did in the past; if you are under supervision now, at least 1 year must have passed since it began. You also need no new conviction in the 5 years before applying, no pending charges or warrants, and not to be incarcerated, and you must wait 2 years after a denial. The Board says it stops a licensing authority from disqualifying you because of a conviction, unless the forfeiture law N.J.S.A. 2C:51-2 applies, but it does not imply pardon and does not forgive the offense. The Board's Certificates page was last updated July 26, 2021.

North Carolina

In North Carolina, you can ask the court where you were convicted for a Certificate of Relief if you have no more than three Class H or I felonies and any misdemeanors. It is not a pardon and does not expunge anything.⁵⁰

Under G.S. 15A-173.2, you must show that 12 months have passed since you finished your sentence, including probation, post-release supervision and parole, that you are working, studying or otherwise lawfully supported, that you followed your sentence, that you have no pending charge, and that granting it poses no unreasonable risk to the public. The filing fee is $50, waived for people who are indigent. A new conviction other than a traffic violation automatically revokes it. Agencies and courts must consider the certificate favorably, but it does not automatically relieve a disqualification. If denied, you can file again after 12 months.

In many places, a pardoned conviction can still show up on your record and on background checks, with the pardon added. Be ready to explain it.^1,2,3,5,6

The Justice Department says a pardoned federal offense stays on your record and both the conviction and the pardon appear. Georgia's board says you must answer "yes" when an employer asks if you have been convicted of a crime, then explain and give a copy of your pardon papers. Virginia says it adds the word "pardon" next to the conviction. New York says a pardon does not expunge a conviction from your state record. California's courts say a pardon does not let you say you have no criminal record, though that may be possible if your case was dismissed or expunged first.

A few states clear a record, or let you ask a court to clear it, after a pardon. Pennsylvania expunges convictions covered by an unconditional pardon automatically as of June 11, 2024, and Connecticut says an absolute pardon erases your adult record. Texas and Georgia let you ask a court.^{2,12,20,24,26,51}

Under 18 Pa.C.S. 9122(a)(2.1) and (a.1), added by Act 36 of 2023, the Board of Pardons sends notice of unconditionally pardoned convictions to the courts each quarter, and the court orders the record expunged; you do not have to file anything. The Board says future inquiries will not return records for pardoned cases. Texas's Board says a person with a full pardon is entitled to an expunction of arrest records tied to the conviction, but must ask a state court; the arrest is not expunged automatically. Georgia says you can petition the court where you were convicted to restrict access to your criminal history under O.C.G.A. 35-3-37(j)(7), if the offense was not a serious violent felony or a sexual offense, you have had no convictions since the pardon (not counting non-serious traffic offenses), and you have no pending charges. Rules differ by state, so check yours; our state record-clearing pages cover others.

Pardon boards usually do not handle expungement, so a pardon may not clear your record on its own. Florida, Georgia, Alabama and the federal government each point you elsewhere for that.^1,2,11,30

DOJ says expungement is a court remedy that DOJ and the President cannot grant; for a federal offense, contact the court of conviction. Florida's clemency office says expunging and clearing records is handled by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Georgia's board says record restriction is not a function of the Parole Board. Alabama's board says its own records are privileged and courts are not authorized to order them expunged, and it points to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency for other records. Our record-clearing pages explain sealing and expungement state by state.