“We all deserve the opportunity to learn from our mistakes and do better tomorrow — but, oftentimes, a record prevents positive forward motion, sparking a repetitive cycle of defeat. I firmly believe that with restored rights, pardoned Pennsylvanians prove themselves by stepping up and giving back to our communities.”
AUGUST 26, 2022
by Latrobe Bulletin
HARRISBURG – Gov. Tom Wolf has signed more than 2,000 pardons since he first took office in 2015, and with these pardons comes a fresh start for these Pennsylvanians and their families.
“Pardoning more than 2,000 Pennsylvanians is one of the greatest honors of my time in office,” Wolf said. “We all deserve the opportunity to learn from our mistakes and do better tomorrow — but, oftentimes, a record prevents positive forward motion, sparking a repetitive cycle of defeat. I firmly believe that with restored rights, pardoned Pennsylvanians prove themselves by stepping up and giving back to our communities.”
Wolf surpassed 2,000 pardons in August, when he granted 102 pardons, of which 26 were expedited review marijuana cases.
A pardon constitutes total forgiveness by the state for a criminal conviction, regardless of whether the sentence included time in prison, and allows for expungement of the related criminal record. Applying for a pardon is free for individuals seeking clemency – an update made during the Wolf administration – and the application can be downloaded online. The process does not require a lawyer.
Wolf has prioritized criminal justice reform throughout his administration and thanks to his leadership, Pennsylvania is a leader in pardon reform. Since taking office, Wolf has granted 2,098 pardons, 326 of those were part of an expedited review for nonviolent marijuana-related offenses.
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