Contact: GovPress@wisconsin.gov 

Governor grants 220 pardons, bringing total pardons granted to 2,027

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today announced he has officially granted more than 2,000 pardons since taking office in 2019, continuing his record-breaking streak of granting more official acts of forgiveness than any other governor in Wisconsin state history. The governor today announced he has granted another 220 pardons, bringing his total number of pardons granted during his time in office to 2,027, a milestone Gov. Evers highlighted he would be attaining in his most recent State of the State address.  

“These 2,000 individuals have tried to put in the work to rebuild their lives and move beyond their past offenses, making amends, volunteering in their communities, building their careers, and even mentoring others on how to do the same and avoid their past mistakes,” said Gov. Evers. “They have worked hard to become people who deserve a second chance and the opportunity to keep growing, doing good, and building a better life, and I am proud to recognize their hard work through an official pardon.”

The Wisconsin Constitution grants the governor the power to pardon individuals convicted of a crime. A pardon is an official act of forgiveness that restores rights lost when someone is convicted of a felony, including the right to serve on a jury, hold public office, and hold certain professional licenses. A pardon does not expunge court records.    

Under Executive Order #30, individuals convicted of a Wisconsin felony may apply for a pardon if they completed their sentence at least five years ago and have no pending criminal charges. Individuals currently required to register on the sex offender registry are ineligible for a pardon. Executive Order #130 established an expedited review process for applications that meet stricter criteria, including a greater length of time elapsed since sentence completion and nonviolent nature of the offenses.  

The pardon application, instructions, and answers to frequently asked questions about the pardon process can be found on the governor’s website at www.evers.wi.gov/pardons.   

A pardon is not a commutation. For information regarding the commutation process and eligibility in the state of Wisconsin, visit the commutation information page on Gov. Evers’ website. 

The list of pardon recipients is available in the attached PDF.