If I am eligible, how could I get a pardon?
There are 3 different ways to get a pardon:
- Certificate of Rehabilitation (COR)—If you apply for and receive a COR first, a request for your pardon is automatically sent to the Governor. The COR serves as the judge’s official recommendation that the Governor should grant your pardon. If your conviction is eligible for a COR, this is the best way to get a pardon. Learn more about getting a COR on PG. 980.
- Direct Pardon (without COR)—You can send a request for a pardon directly to the Governor (also called a traditional pardon). This is the best way to get a pardon if you are NOT eligible for a COR; it is also necessary if any of the following apply to you:
- Your conviction is from California but you do NOT currently live in California;
- You were released from prison or onto parole before May 13, 1943; OR
- You are serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole, and you have more than 1 felony conviction.[3186]
- Board of Parole Hearings Recommendation—The Board of Parole Hearings (BPH) can recommend you for a pardon while you are still in prison, based on your good conduct, unusual sentence, or other strong reasons (for example, you committed your offense because you were a victim of domestic violence).[3187]