The California Department of Justice will not terminate the requirement to register on the basis of gubernatorial pardon unless it includes a finding of innocence.

Pardons involving sex crimes are extraordinarily rare. For many sex offenses, there must be "extraordinary circumstances". Penal Code section 4852.01(d).

It is up to the Governor whether to consider a request for a pardon. The Governor's Office has more information about its investigation and review process.

Find out more about PC 290 registration and California's tiered registration. 

People who have been convicted of a crime in California may apply for a pardon. The Governor of California cannot grant a pardon for a conviction from another state or a federal proceeding.

The Board of Parole Hearings, a division of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, investigates pardon applications. The investigation will include a review of the applicant’s criminal history records, court and police records, and the applicant’s prison record (or C-File), if any.

Pardon applicants will be notified if the Governor takes action on their application or if additional information is required to process their application.

Update regarding pardons and sex offense registration pursuant to Penal Code 290: The California Department of Justice will not terminate the requirement to register on the basis of a gubernatorial pardon unless it includes a finding of innocence. 

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In deciding whether to grant a pardon, the Governor’s Office will carefully review each application and consider:

• the impact of a pardon grant on victims and survivors and others in the community, including whether the grant is consistent with public safety and in the interests of justice and, if relevant, any extraordinary circumstances that justify restoration of firearm rights or a pardon in a sex offense case;
• the age and circumstances of the offense and the age of the applicant at the time;
• the applicant’s self-development and conduct since the offense, including whether the applicant has made use of available rehabilitative programs and has identified and addressed treatment needs; and
• the applicant’s need for a pardon.

The Governor is not required to consider an application and there is no set timeline for review. 

The Governor cannot grant pardons to applicants with more than one felony conviction without the approval of the California Supreme Court. The Governor’s Office requests this approval if needed.

There are two ways to apply for a pardon in California: by Certificate of Rehabilitation or a direct pardon.

One way to apply for a pardon is to first petition for and obtain a Certificate of Rehabilitation from the Superior Court in the county where the applicant currently resides or the county in which the applicant was convicted. When a court grants a petition for a Certificate of Rehabilitation, it becomes an automatic application for a pardon and the court is required to send the order to the Governor’s Office.

Applicants who are eligible for a Certificate of Rehabilitation are encouraged to use that path to file a pardon application.

If a judge granted you a Certificate of Rehabilitation before January 2019 and you did not receive notice of a pardon grant, your application was closed. If you would like Governor Newsom to consider your Certificate of Rehabilitation pardon application will have to resubmiited.

• Give input
• Get information
• Read the Governor’s reports on clemency
• Apply for clemency

The California Constitution gives the Governor the authority to grant clemency, which includes commutations of sentence and pardons.

Clemency is an important part of the criminal justice system that can:

• incentivize accountability and rehabilitation,
• increase the safety of the people working and serving sentences in our jails and prisons,
• increase public safety by removing counterproductive barriers to successful reentry, and
• correct unjust results in the legal system.

You may submit input about clemency issues and cases to Governor Newsom on our Contact page.

The Governor’s Office encourages crime victims, survivors, and next-of-kin who seek information about clemency to contact the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s Office of Victim and Survivor Rights and Services (OVSRS) or call 1-877-256-6877 (toll free). Victims, survivors, and next-of-kin can register with OVSRS to receive support as well as updates about an incarcerated person’s status, and changes to a sentence and notice of parole hearings.

• 2024 Executive Report on Pardons, Commutations of Sentence, and Reprieves (PDF)
• 2023 Executive Report on Pardons, Commutations of Sentence, and Reprieves (PDF)
• 2022 Executive Report on Pardons, Commutations of Sentence, and Reprieves (PDF)
• 2021 Executive Report on Pardons, Commutations of Sentence, and Reprieves (PDF)
• 2020 Executive Report on Pardons, Commutations of Sentence, and Reprieves (PDF)
• 2019 Executive Report on Pardons, Commutations of Sentence, and Reprieves (PDF)

For clemency reports issued by past administrations, please visit California Agency Reports (Agency: Governor) or California State Archives.

Clemency can take the form of a commutation of sentence or a pardon.

• Commutation of sentence: The Governor can reduce the sentence of an individual serving a sentence in a California prison. For the commutation application form and additional information, see Commutations.
• Pardon: A pardon provides relief from punishment and restores some civic rights for individuals who have been convicted of crimes in California and have completed their sentences. For the pardon application form and additional information, see Pardons.

The Governor is not required to consider an application and there is no set timeline for review. There is no court hearing and no application fee. You may apply for clemency without a lawyer. The Judicial Council of California provides clemency self-help information and the California State Bar offers referrals for no- and low-cost legal services.

The Board of Parole Hearings provides additional information about the clemency process. Attorneys may contact the Office of the State Public Defender for technical assistance on parole and clemency matters.

People who have been convicted of a crime and are currently serving their California prison sentence may apply for a commutation (reduction of sentence). 

• How we review applications
• Applying for a commutation

In deciding whether to grant a commutation, the Governor’s Office will carefully review commutation applications and consider: 

• the impact of a commutation on victims and survivors and others in the community, including whether the grant is consistent with public safety and in the interests of justice, 
• the age and circumstances of the offense and the sentence imposed, and the age of the applicant at the time, 
• the applicant’s self-development and conduct since the offense, including whether the applicant has made use of available rehabilitative programs and has identified and addressed treatment needs, 
• the applicant’s need for a commutation, and
• the applicant’s plans upon release from custody. 

Applicants will be notified when the Governor takes action on a commutation application. 

The Board of Parole Hearings, a division of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, investigates commutation applications. The investigation will include a review of the applicant’s criminal history records, court and police records, and the applicant’s prison record (or C-File). 

The Governor cannot grant a commutation to applicants with more than one felony conviction without the approval of the California Supreme Court. The Governor’s Office requests this approval if needed. 

You do not need a lawyer to apply for a commutation. 

1. Submit a completed Commutation Application (2 pages) to the Governor’s Office. You may, but are not required to, submit additional information or copies of relevant documents in support of your application, such as letters of support; and
2. Submit a completed Notice of Intent to Apply for Clemency (1 page) to the District Attorney in the county of the conviction for your commitment offense.
3. Submit an authorization for release of medical information if you are applying for a commutation because you are suffering from a chronic or terminal illness or have a severe and chronic disability that would be substantially mitigated by release from prison or reduction of sentence.

Send application materials to the Governor’s Office by email to commutations@gov.ca.gov. If you do not have access to email you can send the application by mail to Office of the Governor, Attn: Legal Affairs/Parole and Clemency, 1021 O Street, Suite 9000, Sacramento, CA 95814. The Governor’s Office cannot accept in-person delivery. Please do not send original documents because application materials cannot be returned. 

The Governor is not required to consider an application and there is no set timeline for review. There is no application fee and a lawyer is not required to apply for a commutation. For additional information about commutations, visi