Ohio Clemency Application Instructions

Under the Department's rules governing petitions for executive clemency, an applicant must satisfy a minimum waiting period of five years before he becomes eligible to apply for a presidential pardon of his federal conviction. The waiting period begins to run on the date of the petitioner's release from confinement.

Applications for Executive Clemency may be obtained through the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction internet site at https://www.drc.ohio.gov/clemency. Written requests for applications should be sent to the Ohio Parole Board, Clemency Section, 4545 Fisher Road Suite D, Columbus, Ohio 43228.

You must apply for clemency in the state where you were convicted. If you were convicted in federal court, you must make your application to the President of the United States. Most states give the governor the power of executive clemency. However, a few states give the power of clemency to an executive board.

Presidential Clemency: Pardons, Commutations, and Reprieves.

The President has the power to grant executive clemency to convicts. Upon the recommendation of the Board of Pardons and Parole, s/he can grant pardons, commute sentences, or defer the implementation of sentences.

As with any letter, you want to make sure that you address the letter properly, with a date, then the address of the president or governor, and then a subject line with something like Letter of your name in Support of His Petition for Commutation of Sentence/Pardon. Greeting. Again, as with any letter, Dear Mr.