An explanation of how presidential pardons are obtained. References throughout are to the official pardon form which must be obtained from the Office of Pardons.
1
Submit the Petition to the Office of the Pardon Attorney
In order to apply for a presidential pardon you must submit a completed pardon petition which should be printed or typed. Forms are available from the Office of Pardons. The pardon form must be completed fully and accurately in order to be considered. You may attach to the petition additional pages and documents where necessary.
2
Federal Convictions Only
The president's power to pardon extends to federal crimes and crimes arising out of the superior courts of the District of Columbia. The president may not pardon state crimes. In these cases you must make application to the Governor of the state involved.
3
Five Year Waiting Period
There is a five year waiting period from the end of your sentence or parole to allow you to prove that you have become a law abiding, rehabilitated citizen.
4
Reasons for Seeking Pardon
A pardon is not a sign of vindication and does not connote or establish innocence. For that reason, when considering the merits of a pardon petition, pardon officials take into account the petitioner's acceptance of responsibility, remorse, and atonement for the offense. In that connection you must state why it is that you wish a pardon and what hardships you are suffering in the absence of one.
5
Multiple Convictions
You must list all federal convictions on the pardon form including all military courts-martial. You must also disclose all later convictions, state and federal, that you have received. This includes traffic violations and foreign as well as state convictions.
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