If you or someone you love has a conviction in Alaska and is looking for clemency, this guide is written for you. Alaska's process is more layered than most people expect: the application goes to the Board of Parole, which screens and investigates; it then goes to a three-member advisory committee; and the Governor makes the final binding decision. Clemency in Alaska is described on the state's own website as an extraordinary measure that is rarely given and only granted in special circumstances. That is not meant to discourage anyone from applying, but it is honest about what you are asking for. Understanding how the process works before you apply makes a real difference. I have been through the system myself, and most of the fear comes from not knowing the steps. So let me walk you through it in plain language. None of this is legal advice, and every case is different, so treat this as a map and lean on a lawyer for the turns.
What Alaska offers: the forms of clemency
Alaska's Governor has the constitutional authority to grant four types of clemency relief under Article III, Section 21, of the Alaska Constitution. A pardon is an official act of forgiveness for a crime or crimes. It does not erase the conviction from your record, but it does set it aside in a legally meaningful way, as explained below. A commutation of sentence reduces the length of an active prison term without eliminating the conviction itself; it is the form of relief most relevant to people who are still incarcerated. A reprieve is a temporary suspension or delay of a sentence, most commonly seen in capital punishment contexts. A remission of fines or forfeitures cancels or reduces financial penalties ordered by the court.
Who decides: the Governor, with layered review
In Alaska, the pardon power belongs entirely to the Governor. Unlike Alabama, where the Board of Pardons and Paroles independently holds pardon power for most cases, Alaska's Board of Parole has no authority to grant a pardon. Its role is administrative: it receives applications, screens them for eligibility, conducts an investigation if the Governor requests one, and forwards its findings to an advisory committee. The Governor then makes the final decision.
That advisory committee is the Executive Clemency Advisory Committee, known as the ECAC. It is a three-member body composed of the Lieutenant Governor, the Attorney General or another representative from the Department of Law, and a member of the public. The ECAC reviews the Board's investigation report and prepares a non-binding written recommendation to the Governor. The ECAC does not hold a public hearing, and the applicant does not attend any hearing at any stage of the process. The Governor reviews the application and the ECAC recommendation and issues a final decision. The Governor's decision cannot be appealed.
A candid note on Alaska's grant history
Alaska's pardon program was essentially suspended in 2007, following controversy over several grants by a prior governor. It was not reactivated until January 2018, when a new application process was developed and published. Since then, despite applications being accepted, no pardons have been granted in Alaska. The state's own materials describe clemency as something "rarely given," and the application form itself emphasizes that this is an extraordinary measure reserved for special circumstances. Anyone applying should understand this context and approach the application accordingly, presenting the strongest possible case and recognizing that the bar is very high. The state is not running a routine program; it is handling genuine exceptions, and the application needs to make the case that this is one of them. What that typically looks like is a person who has been completely law-abiding for many years since completing their sentence, who has a specific and documented need for the rights a pardon would restore, and who can point to community ties and contributions that would be at risk without relief.
Who is eligible for a pardon in Alaska
Alaska's eligibility criteria are described as guidelines rather than absolute requirements. The state encourages applicants to demonstrate the following before applying. First, you should have been discharged from incarceration, probation, or parole for at least three years before filing. Second, you should not have been convicted of any new crime during those three years and should have no pending charges. Third, you should have exhausted all other available legal remedies, such as sentence modification or expungement where applicable. Fourth, all court-ordered fines, restitution, and fees should be paid.
You can only apply for a pardon on an Alaska state conviction. The Governor of Alaska does not have authority to pardon federal convictions or convictions from other states. Federal clemency for federal crimes is a separate process that goes through the United States Department of Justice.
Municipal ordinance violations are also not considered for clemency. If you are unsure whether your conviction qualifies, contact the Board of Parole to ask before investing time in a full application.
The application process step by step
The process moves through four distinct stages, and at each stage the application can be stopped if it does not meet the standard for proceeding.
Stage one: initial eligibility screening. Submit a clemency application to the Alaska Board of Parole. Applications are available on the Board's website at the Alaska Department of Corrections parole board page. You can also contact the Board directly at 550 W 7th Avenue, Suite 1800, Anchorage, Alaska 99501, or submit by email at clemency@alaska.gov. The application must be typewritten or completed fully in ink and be legible. Along with the application, all applicants must complete an Executive Clemency Questionnaire Worksheet. There is no fee for applying. Within approximately 30 days, the Board will notify you whether you are eligible to proceed.
Stage two: investigation. If your application is deemed eligible and the Governor requests further review, the Board of Parole staff conducts an investigation. This investigation is comprehensive. The Board gathers comments from the prosecuting district attorney and the sentencing court, notifies victims of crimes against a person, domestic violence, or arson in the first degree, and gives victims the opportunity to submit written objections. The applicant does not attend any hearing during the investigation, and there is no provision for a hearing at any stage of the process. The investigation covers virtually the entire history of the applicant: the facts of the original offense, the presentence report, the sentencing record, progress reports during incarceration, and time served. Employment history and personal history are also investigated, which is why applicants must sign waivers authorizing this investigation when they apply. Documents that show compliance with all court orders, such as receipts for restitution payment and completion certificates for programs, should be submitted with the application since the investigation will look for exactly this kind of evidence. The investigation is supposed to be completed within 120 days of referral.
Stage three: ECAC review. Once the investigation is complete, the Board prepares a summary of its findings and sends the full file to the Executive Clemency Advisory Committee. The ECAC reviews the materials and prepares a written recommendation to the Governor. This recommendation is advisory only; the Governor is not bound by it. The ECAC meets as often as necessary to review pending applications.
Stage four: the Governor's decision. The Governor reviews the application, the Board's investigation findings, and the ECAC's recommendation. Before issuing a decision, the Governor checks for conflicts of interest. The Governor may grant or deny the clemency request. The decision is final; there is no appeal. If granted, the applicant receives an original signed and sealed document indicating the pardon. Copies are sent to the sentencing court and the Alaska Department of Public Safety for their records. The entire process from submission to decision typically takes up to one year but can take longer.
What a pardon does in Alaska
An Alaska pardon sets aside the conviction. Setting aside is different from expunging. The conviction remains on your record and will appear on background checks. However, a pardoned conviction can no longer be treated as a prior conviction in any future criminal proceeding. It cannot serve as the basis for an enhanced sentence in a later case. It cannot be the primary basis for denial of a professional license, though the underlying conduct may still be considered by licensing boards. It cannot be used to deport someone solely on the basis of the conviction.
A pardon also restores the right to possess firearms under Alaska state law, specifically Alaska Statute 11.61.200(b). This is significant because Alaska law prohibits possession of a concealable firearm by anyone convicted of a crime against a person, and a pardon removes that state-level prohibition.
A pardon does not erase the conviction from your record. If you are hoping to clear your record, a pardon alone will not accomplish that. Whether any separate sealing or expungement options exist for your particular conviction is a different question governed by different Alaska statutes, and you should consult an attorney about those options separately.
What to include in a strong application
The Board's own materials say that getting a pardon in Alaska is exceedingly difficult and that applicants need to make their application stand out. Here is what that means in practice. Explain clearly and specifically how a pardon would benefit you and the people around you, for example by opening up job opportunities, allowing you to obtain a professional license, avoiding deportation, or enabling you to care for family members. Provide letters of recommendation from employers, community leaders, clergy, or others who can speak to your character and rehabilitation over time. Document your crime-free years with concrete evidence: stable employment records, proof of housing, completion of programs, community involvement. Pay any remaining restitution, fines, or court costs before applying and include documentation of payment. Be specific about the circumstances of the original offense and what has changed since then; a vague application carries less weight than one that directly addresses the facts the Governor and ECAC will be reviewing. If you have support from family members, employers, or others who depend on you, explain that clearly.
A note on federal convictions
If the conviction is a federal conviction rather than an Alaska state conviction, the Alaska Governor and the Alaska Board of Parole cannot help you. Federal clemency, including pardons and commutations for federal offenses, is granted by the President of the United States. Applications go through the Office of the Pardon Attorney within the United States Department of Justice. The federal process has its own eligibility requirements, waiting periods, and application forms, all separate from Alaska's process.
Where this leaves you
Alaska's clemency process is real but demanding. The history of almost no grants since 2006 is sobering, and the state's own language makes clear this is reserved for exceptional cases. What makes a case exceptional is usually a combination of significant time elapsed since the conviction, a compelling demonstration of rehabilitation, a specific and documented need for the rights a pardon would restore, and a spotless record since completing the sentence. If you meet those benchmarks and genuinely need what a pardon provides, the application is worth making carefully and completely. Know that the process will review virtually your entire history, so honesty in the application is not just ethical, it is strategic. An omission that investigators discover looks far worse than the underlying fact would have. Present everything clearly, own what happened, and show through evidence rather than just words that the person you are today is different from the person who committed the offense.