People Change.

Records Can Too.

TWO-THIRDS

of those who apply for a pardon in
Pennsylvania actually get one!

If you are being held back by a conviction in Pennsylvania for a crime at least five years ago where no one was hurt, you need to know this good news. Since 2019, Pennsylvania has been leading the nation in pardon reform.

TWO-THIRDS

of those who apply for a pardon in
Pennsylvania actually get one!

the process is free, the form is short, you don’t need a lawyer, and hundreds and hundreds of people are being pardoned every year.

THANKS TO THE REFORMS, THERE IS A LARGE AND GROWING COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WITH CONVICTIONS IN THEIR PAST, WHO ARE COMING TOGETHER FROM AROUND THE STATE TO SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS, AND TO PUSH MORE CHANGE, SO THAT THERE WILL BE MORE PARDONS, FASTER. TO READ ABOUT THE PARDON PROJECT STEERING COMMITTEE, CLICK HERE. AND TO READ ABOUT THE FILM PARDON ME AND OUR “PARDONS FOR THE PEOPLE” CAMPAIGN, CLICK HERE.

YOU MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE FOR A FAST TRACK IF YOUR CRIMES WERE NOT VIOLENT AND HAPPENED AT LEAST 15 YEARS AGO … AND IF YOU ONLY HAD ONE CASE AGAINST YOU FOR A NON-VIOLENT CRIME, YOU COULD BE ELIGIBLE AFTER TEN YEARS…OR EVEN FIVE! CLICK HERE to see if you qualify.

News Alert

April 2, 2024 - As of the end of March, the Board of Pardons has granted public hearings to more than 8-of-10 pardon applicants (82%). More than half of THEM (62%) received all 5 votes, so they will probably be excused from having to attend a hearing.

The next pardon hearings are on June 12-14. More than 8-of-10 pardon applicants whose cases have been heard this year (80.77%) have been recommended to the Governor.

Pennsylvania Pardon Project Map

Find a Pardon Project

It’s so easy to apply that Pardon Projects (groups of volunteers) are springing up in counties all around the state helping people fill out the form.

Pardon Projects are countywide efforts that link together community organizations (called “Pardon Hubs”) that have been trained in the pardon form and process. They also have a list of volunteers (called “Pardon Coaches”) ready to help people fill out the application.

Click on the county name below to be directed to their website.

Adams County (in development)
Allegheny County (Pittsburgh)
Allegheny County (Wilkinsburg)
Beaver County
Bedford County (in development)
Berks County
Bucks County
Butler County (in development)
Cambria County
Centre County
Chester County
Clearfield County (in development)
Crawford County
Cumberland County
Dauphin County (in development)
Delaware County
Erie County
Huntingdon County
Lackawanna County
Lancaster County
Lawrence County (in development)
Lebanon County (in development)
Lehigh County
Luzerne County
Monroe County (in development)
Montgomery County
Northampton County
Philadelphia County
— West Philadelphia
Schuylkill County (in development)
Somerset County
Venango County (in development)
Wayne County
Washington County
Westmoreland County
York County
Adams County (in development)
Allegheny County (Pittsburgh)
Allegheny County (Wilkinsburg)
Beaver County
Bedford County (in development)
Berks County
Bucks County
Butler County (in development)
Cambria County
Centre County
Chester County
Clearfield County (in development)
Crawford County
Cumberland County
Dauphin County (in development)
Delaware County
Erie County
Huntingdon County
Lackawanna County
Lancaster County
Lawrence County (in development)
Lebanon County (in development)
Lehigh County
Luzerne County
Monroe County (in development)
Montgomery County
Northampton County
Philadelphia County
—West Philadelphia
Schuylkill County (in development)
Somerset County
Venango County (in development)
Washington County
Wayne County
Westmoreland County
York County

You CAN
Do It Yourself!

No Pardon Project in your county (yet)?

You really CAN do it yourself.

If you have a question, write us:
[email protected].

Click here for an 8-minute film about the PA Pardon Process by Pardon Fellow Zach Keasling
Click here for information about pardons
Click here for the application form and instructions (English)
Click here for the application form and instructions (Spanish)
Click here for a list of things to get from the courthouse (English)
Click here for a list of things to get from the courthouse (Spanish)
Click here to watch a “Do It Yourself” video (1 hour)
Click here to to watch some self-help videos about the application (each 5 minutes long)
Click here to hear from people who have been through the process
Click here to read about the new Fast Tracks to see if you quality
Everyone agrees: pardons release potential, helping not just the individual and their families, but whole communities. District Attorneys, Judges, lawyers, communities of faith, chambers of commerce and non-profits around the state are all coming together to help people who have turned their lives around get a fresh start. If you are interested in forming a Pardon Project in your county, CLICK HERE.

There are lots of examples and resources to help you get started, plus lots of experience to share. All of the county Pardon Projects are connected through the Pennsylvania Association of Pardon Projects.

Pardon Project accomplishment

Let’s Get Started Creating Your New Future!

About the Pardon Project

Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity (PLSE) has been helping low-income Philadelphians clean up their criminal records since 2011. In 2018, it started the Pardon Project to make the pardon process in Pennsylvania accessible to those without money to hire lawyers. In 2020, PLSE began helping communities outside Philadelphia form their own Pardon Projects. The Pennsylvania Association of Pardon Projects was formed the following year. Click here to read the article Pardon Projects: Communities Coming Together in Restorative Justice (PA Bar Association, Jan. 2022).
Pennsylvania Association of Pardon Projects
230 S. Broad Street Suite 1102
Philadelphia, PA 19102

[email protected]

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