Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers (D) released a statement Friday boasting how there he has now granted a total of 307 pardons. Evers announced 29 new pardons saying that it is a “powerful message.”
Evers reopened the Governor’s Pardon Advisory Board in 2019, following it being inactive for nine years. Madison’s Fox47 noted Evers has issued more pardons in his first three years as governor than the previous two Wisconsin governors did in their total 16 years in office. In his statement, Evers promised he will “work to continue this important process.”
Twenty of the 29 latest pardons are pardoning drug-related offenses, including running a drug trafficking place and possessing or selling marijuana and other controlled substances.
According to the statement from Evers, “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.”
“A pardon can be a powerful message for individuals who have worked hard to establish themselves as contributing members of their community—one that recognizes that people are more than their past and acknowledges their efforts to build a brighter future,” said Gov. Evers. “I am proud to grant these 29 pardons today and the more than 300 pardons I’ve been able to grant since 2019. Reaching this milestone is a tremendous feat, and we’ll work to continue this important process.”
A press release from the governor’s office in early September announced 71 pardons and a new, quicker process to obtain a pardon for nonviolent offenders and those where a significant amount of time has passed since the offense was committed.
According to the statement, “Executive Order #130 creates a new, expedited process for applications that meet stricter criteria. Under the new process, the chair of the Pardon Advisory Board may send an application directly to the governor without a board hearing if the applicant committed only a non-violent offense and sufficient time has passed since the conviction.”
“After nine years of the board sitting dormant, there are a lot of people out there looking and hoping for their second chance,” said Gov. Evers in September. “Throughout the two years of the Board, we have learned about some areas where we can improve the process to streamline it and help ensure we can get pardons to those who are deserving, including allowing those with low-level, nonviolent offenses to be sent directly to my desk for consideration, as well as making a correction that was preventing folks from receiving pardons not because their crimes were more serious or because they posed a greater risk to the community, but due to the timing of their convictions and sentencing.”
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Hayley Feland is a reporter with The Minnesota Sun and The Wisconsin Daily Star | Star News Network. Follow Hayley on Twitter or like her Facebook page. Send news tips to [email protected].
Photo “Gov. Tony Evers” by Governor Tony Evers.
