Jump to:
- Clemency & Second Look
- Clinics & Projects (federal and state level)
- Resources (federal and state level)
- Expungement & Record Relief
Clemency & Second Look
Clinics & Projects – Federal Level
Compassionate Release Clearinghouse – NACDL & FAMM
The Compassionate Release Clearinghouse is a collaborative pro bono effort between FAMM and NACDL connecting federal prisoners with grounds for compassionate release with pro bono counsel.
Trial Penalty Clemency Project – NACDL
NACDL’s Trial Penalty Clemency Project seeks to recruit volunteers to assist federal prisoners seeking commutations.
Clinics & Projects – State Level
FAMM State Compassionate Release Clearinghouse
Compassionate release programs exist in nearly every state yet are rarely used. FAMM has launched a clearinghouse in pilot states to pair people in custody with volunteer attorneys to advocate for compassionate release. Pro bono attorneys will develop short petitions using compassionate release laws in the state. FAMM will provide trainings, template petitions, and support throughout the process. Please reach out to Molly Crane for additional information and to express interest.
The Second Look Project (DC)
The Second Look Project was founded to provide advocacy and legal support for individuals seeking relief from extreme sentences in the District of Columbia. Our work is focused on those who are eligible for sentence reductions under D.C.’s Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act (“IRAA”) and Compassionate Release laws. We provide direct representation to individuals seeking relief, as well as institutional advocacy, training, and litigation support for court-appointed and pro bono attorneys handling these cases.
Resources & Advocacy – Federal Level
Federal Clemency: A Very Brief Guide
Here are some tips for filling out and submitting your federal clemency petition.
Office of the Pardon Attorney, Department of Justice
The Office of the Pardon Attorney assists the President in the exercise of executive clemency. Executive clemency may take several forms, including pardon, commutation of sentence, remission of fine or restitution, and reprieve.
Resources & Advocacy – State Level
50-State Comparison: Pardon Policy & Practice – Collateral Consequences Resource Center
Section 1 categorizes jurisdictions by frequency and regularity of their pardon practice. Section 2 provides a chart comparing pardon policy and practice across jurisdictions. Section 3 sorts jurisdictions by how the administration of the power is structured. Section 4 provides state-by-state summaries of pardon policy and practice, with links to more detailed analysis and legal citations.
50-State Comparison: Marijuana Legalization, Decriminalization, Expungement, and Clemency – Collateral Consequences Resource Center
As used here, legalization means certain acts are lawful; decriminalization means certain acts may be punishable by fines but not incarceration (i.e. as infractions, petty offenses, civil offenses, etc). In all states, certain acts remain punishable by incarceration: see NORML’s digest of marijuana penalties. Medical marijuana laws are not covered here.
Clemency and Compassionate Release: Resources by State – FAMM
Below you'll find information about clemency and compassionate release specific to your state, including each state's compassionate release laws and FAMM's report card for each state.
Clemency Procedures by State – Death Penalty Information Center
States vary in their procedures for granting clemency. For federal death row prisoners, the President alone has the power to pardon or commute sentences.
Clemency for All Non-violent Drug Offenders (CANDO)
CAN-DO is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit foundation that advocates Clemency for All Non-violent Drug Offenders. Behind every face on the CANDO website is a human with a story. Overly punitive drug laws create negative consequences that trigger a chain reaction upon innocent family members, friends and our society. Most people featured on our website have been locked up for decades. Until our drug laws change, the only relief these individuals have for mercy is a sentence commutation in the form of executive clemency.
Expungement & Record Relief
Clinics & Projects
Expungement – Legal Aid Justice Center (VA)
Non-convictions, many misdemeanor convictions, and some felony convictions will be eligible for sealing, and some of these records will be automatically sealed instead of the typical court process. Unfortunately, this law does not take effect until July 1, 2025. Because LAJC recognizes people directly impacted by criminal records need help now, we have advocated to move up the effective date of the new law.
Expungement Clinics – NACDL
Criminal records can have significant collateral consequences, for decades after a conviction, that affect virtually every aspect of a person’s life including employment and licensing, education, public benefits, voting rights and even volunteer opportunities. Expungement, the legal process of removing a criminal record, including arrests and convictions, from the public record, offers an opportunity for individuals to receive a meaningful second chance. Learn more about NACDL’s expungement clinics below.
National Expungement Service Directory – NACDL
If you are searching for expungement services in your area please use the curated search below. The Directory includes Legal Aid organizations that can assist members of the community on an ongoing basis, but this is not an exhaustive list of resources.
Record Clearing (Expungement) – Georgia Justice Project
GJP assists individuals who have a Georgia criminal history and face barriers to opportunity.
Resources & Advocacy
50-State Comparison: Expungement, Sealing & Other Record Relief – Collateral Consequences Resource Center
Section 1 categorizes jurisdictions by the availability of relief for convictions. Section 2 categorizes jurisdictions with automatic conviction record clearing. Section 3 categorizes jurisdictions by the relief process for non-convictions. Section 4 lists jurisdictions with judicial certificates of relief. Section 5 provides state-by-state summaries of record relief laws, with links to more detailed analysis and legal citations.
50-State Comparison: Marijuana Legalization, Decriminalization, Expungement, and Clemency – Collateral Consequences Resource Center
As used here, legalization means certain acts are lawful; decriminalization means certain acts may be punishable by fines but not incarceration (i.e. as infractions, petty offenses, civil offenses, etc). In all states, certain acts remain punishable by incarceration: see NORML’s digest of marijuana penalties. Medical marijuana laws are not covered here.
A guide to record relief in state courts – NCSC
Record relief is a critical tool for reducing the collateral consequences of criminal records and supporting successful reentry. This guide examines the challenges of accessing expungement and sealing, highlights policy solutions, and provides recommendations for courts seeking to improve record relief processes.
Expungement – DC Justice Lab
The Second Chance Amendment Act went into effect on March 1, 2025. Some people with DC criminal records will be able to have their record sealed or expunged if they meet certain conditions, which are outlined here. Sealed and expunged records are removed from public view so that only restricted parties have access to them. Not everyone will qualify for record relief as some offenses are excluded from the law. Contact a legal service provider for legal advice to determine if you are eligible. At the bottom of this webpage is a list of legal resources you can contact to assist you with the process.
Expungement and Reentry Services – D.C. Public Defender Service
The D.C. Reentry Navigator, a 900-page, 16-chapter book, is a comprehensive compilation of expert knowledge and reentry resources for people arrested, charged, tried, and/or convicted under District of Columbia law. PDS created The D.C. Reentry Navigator as a resource for persons working to regain their lives following arrest, conviction, and/or incarceration.
Making the Promise of Expungement a Reality: A Guide to Record Relief in State Courts (report published in July 2024) – NCSC
There are two broad categories of relief designed to reduce collateral consequences. The first is a set of policies (usually in the form of state legislation) that aim to limit the ways in which people’s court records can be used to make decisions about them. ... The second category of collateral consequences relief includes policies that address the underlying court records (and sometimes law enforcement records) themselves. Because these record-clearing policies directly involve the state courts, they are the focus of the remainder of this report.
State campaigns – The Clean Slate Initiative
Twelve states, and Washington D.C., have passed laws that meet our criteria, most through campaigns led by the Clean Slate Initiative, and there are active campaigns in many more. Learn more about Clean Slate efforts across the country.
The Clean Slate Initiative
The Clean Slate Initiative is a bipartisan organization working across the country, and in Congress, to pass and implement Clean Slate laws and expand who is eligible for record sealing.
Tracking state record relief activities – NCSC
Explore our interactive map showcasing state record relief activities, including research, legislation, initiatives, toolkits, or evidence of barriers.
Virginia Clemency Information for Loved Ones – NACDL
Virginia law allows incarcerated individuals to ask the Governor of Virginia for a conditional pardon. A conditional pardon allows the Governor to change or end a criminal sentence imposed by a court. In order to seek a conditional pardon, you must submit a petition to the Governor’s office.
