If you or someone you love has a conviction in Massachusetts and is looking for a pardon, this guide is written for you. Massachusetts has one of the most layered clemency processes in the country: every petition goes through the Advisory Board of Pardons, then to the Governor, and then the pardon is not effective unless the Governor's Council, a separate eight-member elected body, also approves. Three gates, not one. Pardons in Massachusetts are historically rare, but the current administration under Governor Healey has been more active than its predecessors in recent years. Understanding how each stage works is essential before applying. I have been through the system myself, and most of the fear comes from not knowing how the process works. 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 Massachusetts offers: the forms of clemency
The Governor of Massachusetts has authority under Article LXXIII of the Amendments to the Massachusetts Constitution to grant pardons and commutations, with the advice and consent of the Governor's Council. A pardon forgives an offense and can restore civil rights and remove legal barriers associated with the conviction. A commutation of sentence reduces or modifies a sentence for someone currently incarcerated, without fully forgiving the underlying conviction.
The three-gate structure: Advisory Board, Governor, and Governor's Council
Massachusetts's clemency process is distinctive because it requires three separate approvals before a pardon takes effect. No single actor can grant clemency alone.
Gate one is the Advisory Board of Pardons. The Massachusetts Parole Board sits in this capacity and receives all petitions. The Board is composed of seven full-time salaried members appointed by the Governor to five-year terms, and the chair is chosen by the Governor. The Board acts as a gatekeeper: it reviews every petition, conducts a preliminary investigation, holds public hearings on petitions it deems meritorious, and makes recommendations to the Governor. The Board functions as an effective veto over petitions it does not support, because unfavorable recommendations are forwarded to the Governor with a statement of reasons, and petitions that do not clear the Board effectively stop there. By regulation, petitioners must prove the merits of their petition by clear and convincing evidence, which is a higher evidentiary standard than most administrative processes require.
Gate two is the Governor. Upon receipt of a favorable recommendation from the Advisory Board, the Office of the Governor evaluates the petition. The Governor makes the ultimate determination on whether to proceed. The Governor is not bound by the Board's recommendation but historically weighs it very heavily in making the final determination. If the Governor decides to grant the pardon, the process moves to the third gate.
Gate three is the Governor's Council. The Governor's Council, also known as the Executive Council, is an eight-member body elected by the public. Under the Massachusetts Constitution, any grant of clemency requires the advice and consent of the Governor's Council. A pardon recommended by the Advisory Board and approved by the Governor is not effective unless the Governor's Council also approves it. This is a constitutional requirement, not a procedural formality.
Who is eligible and what factors are considered
Any person convicted of a Massachusetts state crime may petition for clemency. Federal convictions and out-of-state convictions are not eligible. The Governor's Executive Clemency Guidelines inform the Advisory Board's review, and petitions that do not substantially comply with those guidelines will be forwarded to the Governor with a recommendation for denial.
In practice, for felony convictions, a substantial period of good conduct after completing the sentence is expected, with informal standards pointing toward ten years for many felony cases. The Board looks for evidence that the petitioner will be a law-abiding citizen and presents no risk of re-offense. Factors the Board considers include the nature and circumstances of the offense; the petitioner's full criminal history; the evidence of rehabilitation since the conviction; community ties, employment, and housing stability; the reason the pardon is specifically needed rather than other available remedies; and the potential effect on the community or public safety if the pardon is granted. The clearer and more specific the case for a pardon, as opposed to a general desire for forgiveness, the stronger the petition. Applicants who can point to a specific professional, legal, or civil disability that the pardon would address tend to present stronger cases than those seeking general relief.
If gun rights restoration is part of the petition, a letter from the Chief of Police in the petitioner's city or town must be submitted, stating that the Chief would approve the petitioner's application for a gun permit if a pardon is granted. This letter is required at the time of application; it cannot be added later.
At least three letters of recommendation from people other than family members must be submitted. These should come from credible sources such as clergy, teachers, judges, employers, or elected officials who can speak specifically to the petitioner's rehabilitation and good character.
The application process step by step
Step one: submit the petition to the Massachusetts Parole Board. All petitions for executive clemency are submitted to the Massachusetts Parole Board, which sits as the Advisory Board of Pardons. The Parole Board can be reached toll-free at (866) 480-6272, and information about the clemency process is available at mass.gov. The petition must comply with relevant Massachusetts General Laws and the Governor's Executive Clemency Guidelines; a petition that does not substantially comply will not advance past administrative review. If seeking gun rights restoration, include the Chief of Police letter and include three or more letters of recommendation from credible non-family sources with the initial submission.
Step two: administrative compliance review. Once the petition is received, the Advisory Board reviews it for compliance with applicable law and the Governor's guidelines. If the petition does not substantially comply, it is forwarded directly to the Governor with a recommendation that it be denied. The petitioner is notified of this recommendation.
Step three: preliminary investigation. If the petition passes administrative review, the Board conducts a preliminary investigation and prepares a case summary covering the petitioner's criminal, social, and institutional histories.
Step four: the public hearing. If the Board determines, based on the preliminary investigation and case summary, that the petition warrants a hearing, a public hearing is scheduled. Scheduling a hearing is itself a meaningful threshold that not all petitions reach. At the hearing, the petitioner is questioned by the Board, and witnesses appearing on the petitioner's behalf may also be questioned. Interested parties, including the district attorney's office and victims, are notified and may participate. The hearing is the petitioner's direct opportunity to present the full case for clemency, and preparation matters significantly.
Step five: Board recommendation. Following the hearing, the Board considers all evidence and makes a recommendation to the Governor. A favorable recommendation moves the petition to the Governor's desk.
Step six: Governor's review and Council vote. If the Governor decides to grant the pardon, the Governor's Council is asked to approve. The pardon does not take effect unless the Council votes to provide its advice and consent.
What a pardon does in Massachusetts
A pardon in Massachusetts restores the basic citizenship rights lost by a conviction, including the right to vote, to serve on a jury, and to run for and hold public office. Voting rights in Massachusetts are more preserved than in most states: the only people who lose the right to vote are those currently incarcerated in a correctional facility, and that right is automatically restored upon release from incarceration without any application required. So for most people who have completed their sentence, including those on probation or parole, a pardon does not change their voting status. The right to vote while on parole or probation sets Massachusetts apart from the majority of states in this series. The primary practical benefits of a pardon in Massachusetts are the ability to hold public office, jury eligibility, removal of barriers to employment and professional licensing, and in appropriate cases the restoration of firearms rights if the Chief of Police letter was included.
For firearms rights, a pardon is the primary path for people whose convictions create permanent disqualification under Massachusetts law. Under Massachusetts law, sealing a criminal record under the general sealing statute does not remove state firearms disabilities, even though the conviction may be hidden from many background checks. Only a pardon removes those state-level firearms barriers. This is a critical point for anyone whose conviction prevents them from getting a firearms identification card or a license to carry: sealing is not sufficient, and a pardon is required. The Chief of Police letter stating the Chief would approve the gun permit application is a prerequisite if firearms restoration is part of the petition, and it must be submitted with the application, not added later. There is also an alternative pathway for certain lower-level offenses through the Firearm Licensing Review Board after five years, but for most felony convictions a pardon is the only state-level route.
Once a pardon is granted, the pardoned conviction may be sealed. Sealing of a pardoned conviction is available as a separate process, which can provide additional record relief beyond the pardon itself.
If a pardon is granted on grounds of innocence for a wrongful conviction, it may also provide a basis to seek compensation from the state for the period of wrongful imprisonment. This is a distinct legal claim separate from the pardon itself, and deadlines to file may be very short after the pardon is granted. An attorney should be retained promptly if wrongful conviction is part of the case.
A note on federal convictions
If the conviction is a federal conviction, the Governor of Massachusetts and the Advisory Board of Pardons cannot help you. Federal clemency is granted by the President of the United States, and applications go through the Office of the Pardon Attorney within the United States Department of Justice. The federal and state processes are entirely separate.
Where this leaves you
Massachusetts's three-gate structure means that a pardon requires consensus from more decision-makers than in almost any other state in this series. The Advisory Board acts as the primary filter, and getting a public hearing is itself a significant step. Governor Healey's decision to recommend seven pardons in her first year in office, described as the most pardons recommended by a Massachusetts governor in their first year in over forty years, signals a more receptive environment than the recent past, but the process remains demanding and pardons remain rare. If you are considering applying, prepare a thorough petition that clearly identifies what the pardon is needed for and why other available remedies are insufficient. Secure strong letters of recommendation from credible sources outside your family who can speak specifically to your rehabilitation, not just your general good character. Obtain the Chief of Police letter if firearms restoration is the goal, and obtain it before submitting the application since it cannot be added later. Expect the process to take a significant amount of time: preliminary investigation, public hearing scheduling, Board deliberation, Governor review, and Council vote all add up to a timeline measured in months to years. The clear and convincing evidence standard is demanding; treat the application as a formal legal proceeding and prepare accordingly.