A pardon is the forgiveness of a crime and any penalties that may be associated with it. Pardons are granted by the head of state, such as a monarch or in the United States, the president. Clemency is an associated term, meaning the lessening of the penalty of the crime without forgiving the crime itself. The act of clemency is a type of reprieve. Today, pardons and reprieves are granted in many countries when individuals convicted of wrongdoing have demonstrated that they have fulfilled their debt to society, or are otherwise deserving of forgiveness. Pardons are often offered to persons who claim they have been wrongfully convicted. Some believe accepting such a pardon implicitly constitutes an admission of guilt, so in some cases the offer is refused (cases of wrongful conviction are nowadays more often dealt with by appeal and in some states, exoneration, rather than by pardon).

In the United States, only the president has the authority to issue a pardon.  Article II, Section 2 gives the president exclusive pardon authority. The only limitation is that the president cannot pardon individuals who have been impeached.

If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about the presidential pardon process, feel free to call us at (615) 346-2213 or complete the information request form below.