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
At its June hearings, the Board of Pardons heard 169 applications for clemency and recommended 134 - meaning: pardon applicants continue to have an 8 -in-10 chance of getting recommended!
But it's still taking WAY TOO LONG for good people to get their hearing. Click here and sign our letter asking for better funding so the Board will hold more hearings!
Find a Pardon Project
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.
Allegheny County (Pittsburgh)
Allegheny County (Wilkinsburg)
Beaver County
Bedford County
Berks County
Bucks County
Butler County (in development)
Cambria County
Cameron County (in development)
Chester County
Clearfield County (in development)
Crawford County
Cumberland County
Dauphin County (in development)
Delaware County
Elk County (in development)
Erie County
Huntingdon County
Lackawanna County
Lancaster County
Lawrence County (in development)
Lebanon County (in development)
Lehigh County
Monroe County
Montgomery County
Northampton County (in development)
Philadelphia County
— West Philadelphia
Somerset County
Wayne County
Washington County
Westmoreland County (in development)
York County
Adams County (in development)
Allegheny County (Pittsburgh)
Allegheny County (Wilkinsburg)
Beaver County
Bedford County
Berks County
Bucks County
Butler County (in development)
Cambria County
Cameron County (in development)
Clearfield County (in development)
Crawford County
Cumberland County
Dauphin County (in development)
Delaware County
Elk County (in development)
Erie County
Huntingdon County
Lackawanna County
Lancaster County
Lawrence County (in development)
Lebanon County (in development)
Lehigh County
Monroe County
Montgomery County
Northampton County (in development)
Philadelphia County
—West Philadelphia
Somerset County
Washington County
Wayne County
Westmoreland County (in development)
York County
You CAN
Do It Yourself!
You really CAN do it yourself.
If you have a question, write us:
papardonproject@gmail.com .
Click here for an 12-minute film about the PA Pardon Process by Pardon Fellow Zach Keasling
Click here for “How-To”: a series of 7 short videos.
Click here for information about pardons
Click here to download the application form and instructions (English)
Click here to download 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 for a form motion to waive court fines, fees and costs if you are low-income
Click here for a petition to expunge summary offenses and non-conviction data
Click here to watch a “Do It Yourself” video (1 hour – English)
Click here to watch a “Do It Yourself” video (1 hour – Spanish)
Click here for advice for how to prepare for your pardon hearing from four people who have gone through it
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.
Let’s Get Started Creating Your New Future!
About the Pardon Project
