The Pennsylvania Board of Pardons is making widespread changes to the clemency application process, calling it the most extensive system update in decades.
Lt. Gov. John Fetterman believes it will make it easier for people to apply for people to ask for pardons or a reduced prison sentence.
“It hasn’t always been a priority to offer second chances to people who’ve been written off and thrown away by society,” Fetterman said. “However, helping disenfranchised people turn their lives around is not just a fiscally sound thing to do. Mercy is at the core of so many religions because it also happens to be the right thing to do.”
The three-year project will move the entire process online, allowing applicants to follow their case status online. Previously, the majority of the process was by paper, forcing people to call the Board of Pardons for an update.
Secretary Celeste Trusty said the upgrades will allow for more transparency and clarity.
“By reducing staff time spent responding to status requests and locating missing documents, and drastically reducing our reliance on paper applications, we will be able to shift our focus and resources more toward the goal of our agency, which is to help people,” Trusty said.
According to officials, the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons has seen a spike in clemency applications over the last few years. Governor Tom Wolf has pardoned nearly 2,000 people and commuted 45 life sentences.