There are many reasons to seek a pardon.   The follow is a summary of several common reasons.

Employment & Housing

A pardon may be required for certain employment positions that disallow a criminal conviction.  The following is common with certain types of jobs that require licensure.

A pardon may also be required to obtain certain types of housing (that disallow tenants with criminal convictions, especially felony convictions.)

Expungement

A pardon may be sought by people that want to expunge a conviction record that cannot be statutorily expunged (e.g. certain felony-level convictions.)  A successful pardon will allow the following type of conviction to be fully expunged (rather than just the judicial records.)

Firearm Rights Restoration 

A pardon can remove certain types of firearms prohibitions. 

For example, a person may have a Minnesota Felony conviction that imposes a firearms prohibition under another State’s Laws.  Some states require that felony convictions be pardoned to remove its firearms prohibition(s). 

Another example is a Misdemeanor Crime of Domestic Violence conviction that results in a Federal firearms prohibition.  A pardon is required to remove that type of prohibition.

Travel 

A pardon may be necessary to remove certain travel restrictions and foreign residency requirements.

Education

A pardon may be needed for certain educational pursuits that disallow criminal convictions.

Psychological/Emotional Relief

Certain people may simply want to remove the psychological and emotion burden of a criminal conviction.  A pardon can provide great relief to many people and help them break from the past and move on with their lives.

The commission and board of pardons takes multiple factors into consideration when making its decision.  For example:

Length of Time Since Offense

The longer the time period since an offense, the more this factor weighs in favor of a pardon.

Severity and Nature of the Offense

The severity of the offense can strongly influence the Board’s decision.  For example, an offense’s severity can be measured by the offense level (e.g. misdemeanor vs. felony); whether the offense was violent (e.g. assault); and mitigating factors (e.g. age of applicant at time of offense.)  Basically, the more severe the offense, the more difficult it is to get a pardon. 

Applicant’s Criminal Record

An applicant’s criminal record can weigh heavily in favor of a pardon.  Basically, the fewer offenses an applicant has, the more this favor weighs in a pardon’s favor.  Optimally, an applicant’s criminal record would only consist of one offense for which the applicant is seeking a pardon.

Victim’s Position

The commission and board must take the victim’s recommendation regarding an applicant’s pardon into account when making its decision.  If a victim supports the applicant’s pardon, it can weigh strongly in its favor.

Prosecutor’s Position

The commission and board considers the prosecutor’s position when making its decision.  If the prosecutor supports a pardon or takes a neutral position, it can weigh significantly in its favor. 

Judge’s Position

The commission and board considers the trial judge’s position when making its decision.  The trial judges support or neutral position regarding a pardon may weigh strongly in its favor. 

Evidence of Rehabilitation

The commission and board examines the applicant’s rehabilitative efforts.  Rehabilitative efforts can include educational achievements, employment history, and successful completion of counseling or drug/alcohol treatment.

Reasons for Seeking Pardon

The commission and board will consider why an applicant is seeking a pardon.  For example, for employment or housing reasons.  The more compelling an applicant’s reasons for seeking a pardon the more they weigh in its favor.

Previous Legal Remedies

The commission and board may consider the applicant’s prior legal remedies regarding the offense sought to be pardoned.  For example, an expungement of the case sought to be pardoned may weigh in its favor.

Strength of Application

A thorough, well-structured, and compelling pardon application (supported by supplemental documentation and evidence) may strongly influence the commission’s and board’s decision.