The Office of the Pardon Attorney today released a new version of its application for presidential pardons. This updated form is the result of a year-long collaboration with the Office for Access to Justice (ATJ) aimed at making the application more user-friendly and accessible. A pardon can assist those who have completed their federal sentences by providing relief from the collateral consequences of a criminal conviction.
Pardon and ATJ engaged with applicants, stakeholders, and advocates to gather and incorporate feedback. They used a people-centered approach and best practices in form design to align with access to justice principles and research. These revisions are part of a department-wide effort to expand access to justice by simplifying public-facing forms and documents, consistent with recommendations described in the 2022 and 2023 Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable Reports.
Notable changes to the pardon form include:
- Eliminating the requirement for notarized signature pages, reducing the burden on applicants and their character references;
- Asking for less information about applicants’ histories, streamlining the application process;
- Reducing legal jargon and implementing plain language throughout;
- Adding user-focused resources such as enhanced instructions, explanations, a checklist for completion, and a table of contents.
“I am very excited to announce the launch of our new-and-improved pardon form, which greatly simplifies and improves the user experience,” said Pardon Attorney Elizabeth Oyer. “It is an important piece of Pardon’s broader efforts to simplify and demystify the clemency process. It is vital that we take data-driven and forward-thinking steps to maintain a clemency process that is accessible and user-friendly. Along with our community outreach and educational visits to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, this form shows our ongoing commitment to the public to reduce the burden of applying for clemency.”
If an application for pardon is already pending, there is no need to resubmit using the new form. The Office will continue processing any applications received using either form. For more information about the work and outreach of the Office of the Pardon Attorney, visit Office of the Pardon Attorney | Office of the Pardon Attorney (justice.gov).