Pardon Board

The Pardon Board Hearing scheduled for Thursday, January 16, 2025, at 9AM, through, the following options:

(Petitioners’ will be notified of their Hearing time once the schedule has been determined)

    • In-Person:  at The Maine Department of Corrections Board Room, Tyson Building - 3rd Floor, 25 Tyson Drive, Augusta Maine
      • (PARKING: Outer Parking Lots recommended/unless handicap (several spots available in front of Tyson Building)
      • It is recommended to be here by 8:45a.m. 
         
    • Telephone: Those who are not able to join the hearing in-person, may access the Hearing via Teleconference by dialing conference call number (toll free) 1-877-304-9269 along with Guest Passcode 346298# to be connected. (You may hear music until the host enters their passcode).
      • If you plan to call in, please call in at 8:55A.M. as the Hearing starts at 9am, unless posted otherwise.
      • Important: Out of respect for those being heard, please silence/mute your phones during the hearing process.

            The Chair of the Board will provide introductions and explain the hearing process and guidelines at the beginning.

Executive Clemency - Pardons and Commutations

The Division provides administrative support to the Executive Branch for this program area. Please refer to the information below on the most often asked questions regarding the Executive Clemency process.

Please read this information before completing an application for a pardon or commutation.

Forms

Application Form(word)

Application Form (PDF)

FAQ

What is Executive Clemency?

How does a pardon affect my criminal record?

Is there an alternative to the pardon process for a Petitioner adjudicated to have committed a juvenile crime?

What guidelines have been established to determine whether a pardon petition will be heard?

What guidelines have been established to determine whether a commutation petition will be heard?

What are the steps involved in the Executive Clemency process?

If I am granted a hearing before the Governor's Board on Executive Clemency, what must I do?

How long does the Executive Clemency process usually take?

If I am denied a hearing, how long should I wait before reapplying?

Questions about the pardon or commutation process or to request forms


A.    What is Executive Clemency?

“Executive Clemency” refers to the constitutional power (see Maine Constitution, Article V, Part First, section 11) given exclusively to the Governor that allows him or her, following a criminal conviction or juvenile adjudication, to grant either a commutation of sentence or a pardon.  A commutation is a partial or full reduction of a sentence for persons presently incarcerated for having committed a crime.  A pardon (unlike a commutation) officially forgives an individual for a crime or crimes. 

B.   How does a pardon affect my criminal record?

The effect of a full and free pardon on an individual’s criminal record is controlled by Title 16, sections 701 -710 of the Maine Revised Statutes Annotated.  Because Maine does not expunge or erase criminal records, one’s criminal record is not “wiped clean” by being granted a pardon; rather, information concerning the pardoned conviction is considered “confidential criminal history record information” and is available only under the limited conditions or circumstances set forth in Title 16, section 701-710 of the Maine Revised Statutes Annotated.  Information related to a conditional pardon may be disseminated to any person for any purpose.

C.   Is there an alternative to the pardon process for a Petitioner adjudicated to have committed a juvenile crime?

A Petitioner adjudicated to have committed a juvenile crime may request a pardon.  However, as an alternative to the pardon process, the Petitioner may petition the court in which the adjudication occurred to seal from public inspection all records pertaining to the juvenile crime and its disposition.

D.    What guidelines have been established to determine whether a pardon petition will be heard?

  1. Petitioners seeking a pardon will not be heard until five (5) years have elapsed from the date of completion of entire sentence, including any probation periods or restitution owed associated with the sentence.
  2. Petitioners seeking a pardon for Operating under the Influence of Intoxicating Liquor (OUI) will not be heard.
  3. Petitioners seeking a pardon will not be heard if the Petitioner is seeking to rectify alleged errors in the judicial system.
  4. Petitioners seeking a pardon for the sole purpose of carrying a firearm to hunt, or otherwise, will not be heard.
  5. Petitioners seeking a pardon for the sole purpose of having the Petitioner’s name removed from the state’s Sex Offender Registry will not be heard.
  6. Petitioners seeking a pardon for one criminal conviction when the Petitioner has one or more additional serious criminal convictions that are not included in the Petitioner’s application for a pardon will not be heard.
  7. Petitioners seeking a pardon for the purpose of entry into Canada will not be heard. However, individuals with criminal convictions who are seeking entrance into Canada should contact the Consulate General of Canada for further information on reinstating this privilege.

    In exceptional cases, the Governor’s Board on Executive Clemency may waive these guidelines.

E.    What guidelines have been established to determine whether a commutation petition will be heard?

  1. Petitioners seeking a commutation of a sentence must have served at least one half of the Petitioner’s original sentence (not including “good time”), or a minimum of one year of a sentence, whichever is a longer period of time.  A person petitioning for a commutation must have confirmation in writing from the warden or superintendent of the penal institution in which the person is incarcerated, that the minimum time served criteria, discussed above, have been met. 
  2. Petitioners seeking commutation will not be heard if the Petitioner is seeking to rectify alleged errors in the judicial system.
  3. Petitioners serving a life sentence will not be heard.
    In exceptional cases, the Governor’s Board on Executive Clemency may waive these guidelines.

F.    What are the steps involved in the Executive Clemency process?

  1. A Petitioner for Executive Clemency must complete the attached petition and identify EACH CONVICTION for which Executive Clemency is sought.  In addition, a Petitioner must obtain from the court in which the Petitioner was convicted, a certified copy of the CHARGING INSTRUMENT (e.g., the Indictment, Information, or Complaint), JUDGMENT AND COMMITMENT FORM, and DOCKET SHEET for each conviction for which Executive Clemency is sought.  If a Petitioner is not able to obtain the above forms (e.g. because they were destroyed or archived due to the age of the conviction), the Petitioner must have the Clerk of the Courts certify in writing that the documents are unavailable.
  2. Once completed, the petition must be notarized and sent, along with all required documents, to the Department of Corrections, Attn:  Pardon Clerk, 111 State House Station, Augusta, ME  04333-0111.
  3. Upon receipt of the completed petition and necessary documents, the Department of Corrections requests a full driving record from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles then forwards all petition materials to the Department of Corrections.  The Department of Corrections will ask the State Bureau of Identification of the Maine State Police to do a preliminary background check for the Governor’s Board on Executive Clemency.  Once that background check is completed, the Board will review the petitions it has received and will grant or deny a request for hearing on each Petitioner.  Petitioners will be notified in writing of the Board’s decision.
  4. Petitioners that are granted a hearing will be asked to appear before the Board at its next regularly scheduled meeting.  In the meantime, the Division of Probation and Parole within the Department of Corrections will conduct a more thorough background investigation and present its findings to the Board. The investigation will include a personal interview between the Petitioner and a member of the staff from Division of Probation and Parole.  That Division will contact each Petitioner to establish a mutually convenient time for an interview.  The investigating officer may also conduct additional interviews with the Petitioner’s family, friends, co-workers, neighbors or others in the Petitioner’s community regarding the Petitioner’s request for clemency.
  5. Prior to the hearing, Petitioners must publish in a newspaper a Legal Notice announcing that a Pardon or Commutation hearing will be held.  The specific requirements of the legal notice will be provided to the Petitioner by the Department of Corrections.  The notice must be published once a week for four consecutive weeks prior to the date of the hearing.  (See Section G for more details regarding publication requirements.)  The expense incurred for the publication of this Legal Notice is solely the petitioner’s responsibility.
  6. At the hearing, the Board will have an opportunity to ask the Petitioner about matters involving the Petitioner’s application for clemency, including the reason why clemency is being sought and the circumstances surrounding the crime(s) for which a pardon or commutation is being requested.  These hearings are open to the public.  Following all of the hearings, the Board meets in Executive Session to discuss the Petitioner’s case.  The Board, which serves in an advisory capacity to the Governor, then makes its recommendations to the Governor.
  7. The Governor, who has sole responsibility for the granting or denial of Executive Clemency, reviews the Board’s recommendations and makes the final decision.  The Governor will accept the Board’s recommendation, reject the Board’s recommendation, modify the Board’s recommendation or ask the Board for more information.  Petitioners are notified in writing of the Governor’s decision.

G.    If I am granted a hearing before the Governor's Board on Executive Clemency, what must I do?

  1. Publish the Legal Notice that the Petitioner will receive from the Pardon Clerk at the Department of Corrections. The Legal Notice must be published in a newspaper that has general circulation in the county in which the Petitioner's case was tried. The Legal Notice must appear once a week for four consecutive weeks prior to the date of the hearing. The expense incurred for the publication of this Legal Notice is solely the petitioner's responsibility. In addition, the Petitioner is responsible for providing the Pardon Clerk with a copy of the entire page in each week's newspaper in which the Legal Notice appeared.
  2. Those petitioning for a pardon must appear in person before the Governor's Board on Executive Clemency at a time and location in Augusta specified in writing by the Board.
     

    Persons petitioning for a commutation are not permittedto appear in person. They must ask someone to appear on their behalf (e.g., a relative, a friend, a resident advocate, legal counsel).

  3. Petitioners may ask other persons to appear and speak on their behalf at the hearing.
  4. At the Board's discretion, accommodations can be made for petitioners residing out of the state to attend the hearing via telephone.

H.    How long does the Executive Clemency process usually take?

The length of time varies.  Petitioners should be aware that the Governor’s Board on Executive Clemency meets no fewer than three (3) times a year in Augusta to review petitions and hold clemency hearings.  Thus, from the time a Petitioner’s properly completed application is received by the Department of Corrections, the process usually takes a minimum of six months for the Petitioner to receive the Governor’s decision and could take as much as a year or longer.

The Board’s decision whether or not to grant a Petitioner a hearing, and the Governor’s decision whether or not to grant a Petitioner clemency are final decisions.  There is no right to appeal the decisions or ask for reconsideration.

I.    If I am denied a hearing or my request for a pardon or commutation is denied, how long should I wait before reapplying?

           Petitioners generally must wait one year before reapplying for clemency.

J.   Sealing Records- As an alternative to seeking a pardon, you may follow the prompts at the link directly below for further information on what specific                  Class D and E convictions can be sealed through the courts-

           https://www.courts.maine.gov/help/criminal/sealing.html

K.   Questions about the pardon or commutation process or to request forms

Additional questions about pardons and commutations can be directed to:

Department of Corrections
Division of Adult Community Services
111 State House Station
Augusta, Maine  04333
Telephone:  (207) 287-3366