Last Updated on July 3, 2025 by Keith E. McAndrews, Esquire
Key Takeaways
- Pennsylvania now offers a fully online clemency (pardon) application
- The new platform removes barriers like printing, mailing, and language limitations
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) is used to help speed up the review of handwritten applications
- All applications are screened for automatic expedited review
- Over 1,000 pardons have been recommended under current Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis
- A pardon can restore civil rights, and opens doors to jobs, education, and more
- The new online pardon application is part of a statewide effort to expand second chances for more people
- If a pardon is granted, you can legally state on applications that you were not convicted of a crime
A New System to Speed up the Pardon Application Process in PA
According to a 2024 University of Chicago study, at least two-thirds of employers conduct background checks on potential employees before making a hiring decision. The study discovered that employers are less likely to hire a person with any criminal history. BFI_WP_2024-57.pdf
Fortunately, the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons has launched a groundbreaking online clemency application, making it easier than ever for people with a criminal record to apply for a Governor’s pardon.
The online form changes how people apply for a pardon. It marks a major change in the way pardons are accessed — removing logistical hurdles and creating more fairness in the pardon application process.
This change, made with the help of the Commonwealth Office of Digital Experience (CODE PA), shows Governor Josh Shapiro wants a fair and efficient pardon system in Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania online pardon application can be found at: bop-clemency-application-may-2025.pdf
Pennsylvania Creates an Easier Path to a Clean Record
Lt. Governor Austin Davis, who leads the Board of Pardons, has made it clear that this isn’t just about modernizing technology — it’s about expanding opportunity for a people to get a second chance.
He emphasized that most of the pardon applicants are ordinary citizens who have taken significant steps to turn their lives around.
Features of the new online application:
- Currently available to non-incarcerated persons
- Can be completed in English or Spanish
- Offers website translation into 17 additional languages via the “Translate” feature on PA.gov
For those still incarcerated, a downloadable PDF version of the application is available.
New Technology Helps People Apply for Pardons More Easily
The online system has changes to make the pardon process simpler and faster, including:
- Digital Access: No need for printing or mailing. The entire eight-step application can be completed from a phone, tablet, or computer
- AI Assistance: Artificial intelligence now helps process handwritten documents, reducing the need for staff to manually retype applications
- Language Support: Spanish-language PDF applications are offered, and the web interface supports translation into multiple languages
- Automatic Expedited Review: All submissions are now screened for the Board’s expedited review process, which was updated in 2023 to be faster and more transparent
The online application procedure will let more people in Pennsylvania request a pardon.
Pennsylvania is Granting More Pardons
This move is part of a broader push by the Shapiro-Davis administration to improve access to the Pennsylvania Pardon Program.
Since Lt. Governor Davis took office, the Board has already recommended more than 1,000 pardons to Governor Josh Shapiro. These efforts build on the legacy of former Governor Tom Wolf, who issued a record-setting 2,540 pardons during his term.
Recent investments and reforms include:
- Clean Slate Law Expansion (Dec 2023): Streamlines record-clearing after a pardon
- Expedited Review Updates (July 2023): Makes faster case review automatic and easier to understand
- $355,000 Budget Allocation: Funds a clemency unit within the Department of Corrections to reduce application backlogs
Required Documents for the Pennsylvania Pardon Application
- Criminal Complaint
- Affidavit of Probable Cause
- Criminal Information or Indictment
- Final Plea or Verdict Form
- Sentencing Order
- Documentation of Your Financial Obligation Status (proof that court costs, fines, and restitution have been paid)
- Personal statement explaining why you are seeking a pardon
- Letters of support
- Educational diplomas or certificates
What Does the Pardon Board Consider When They Decide on a Pardon?
- How many years have passed since the crime(s)?
- What have you done to improve your life since the crime(s) occurred? (education, employment, counseling)
- Why do you need a pardon? (employment, housing, civil rights restored)
- What impact would a pardon have on the victim(s) of the crime?
Benefits of a Pardon
Receiving a pardon in Pennsylvania is about more than erasing a criminal record — it’s about restoring basic rights and opportunities that many of us take for granted. A governor’s pardon can:
- Restore your voting rights (if you lost the right while in jail)
- Allow you to serve on a jury
- Let you volunteer at your children’s school
- Allow you to own a gun legally again
- Enable you to run for public office
- Reopen your eligibility for student loans
- Allow eligibility for foster care or adoption (after 10 years)
- Reinstate access to jobs in healthcare, education, and more (after 10 years)
- Allows you to truthfully say you were not convicted of a crime on job applications and background checks
- Restore your right to travel to certain countries outside the United States
If granted, Pennsylvania state law requires automatic expungement of all unconditional pardons. Basically, a pardon lets people truly start over.
Conclusion
The new Pennsylvania online pardon application is a powerful leap forward — not just for technology, but for justice. For thousands of people who want a fresh start, the process is now much easier.
