MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today announced that he has granted 159 pardons. The pardon grants bring the governor’s overall total number of pardons granted during his time in office to 933.

“Through each round of new pardon applicants, these individuals share their personal stories about how they have worked to grow beyond their past mistakes to build positive, strong lives for themselves and their families,” said Gov. Evers. “Each pardon recipient’s journey is unique, and each deserves the opportunity for a new start.”

The Wisconsin Constitution grants the governor the power to pardon individuals convicted of a crime. A pardon is an official act of forgiveness that restores rights lost when someone is convicted of a felony, including the right to serve on a jury, hold public office, and hold certain professional licenses. A pardon does not expunge court records.

Under Executive Order #30 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. Executive Order #130 established an expedited review process for applications that meet stricter criteria, including a greater length of time elapsed since sentence completion and nonviolent nature of the offenses.

The pardon application, instructions, and answers to frequently asked questions about the pardon process can be found on the governor’s website at www.evers.wi.gov/pardons.