If you or someone you love has a conviction in New York and is looking for relief, this guide needs to start with a structuring principle that New York uses and most other states do not: a pardon is only considered when no other adequate administrative or legal remedy is available. Before thinking about a pardon, evaluate whether a Certificate of Relief from Disabilities, a Certificate of Good Conduct, or the Clean Slate Act sealing process addresses the specific problem. If one of those alternatives works, the pardon process is unlikely to be the right path. If none of those alternatives is available or adequate, then a pardon may be what is needed and this guide covers that process. 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.
Alternatives to a pardon: check these first
New York offers several relief mechanisms that are more accessible than a pardon and address most collateral consequences for most people.
A Certificate of Relief from Disabilities (CRD) is issued by the sentencing court and is available to people with one felony conviction or any number of misdemeanor convictions. It removes most automatic forfeitures and disabilities from the conviction and prevents licensing agencies from automatically denying a license or permit based on that conviction alone. A CRD does not seal or erase the conviction but is far more accessible than a Governor's pardon and is often the recommended first step for anyone facing employment or licensing barriers from a single felony conviction.
A Certificate of Good Conduct (CGC) is issued by the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) after a waiting period based on the offense. It serves a similar function to the CRD for people with more than one felony conviction, for whom a CRD from the court is not available. Waiting periods range from one year for misdemeanors to five years for the most serious felonies. CGCs are processed by DOCCS and are generally more accessible than a gubernatorial pardon.
New York's Clean Slate Act (2024) provides for automatic sealing of many convictions after waiting periods: three years for misdemeanors and eight years for eligible felonies, subject to offense-type exceptions. This was a major expansion of record relief in New York and affects a large number of convictions without requiring any application from the person whose record is being sealed. Petition-based sealing is also available under CPL § 160.59 for up to two convictions including one felony, with different eligibility rules.
A pardon in New York is typically needed only for the most serious offenses, for immigration-related relief (preventing deportation or restoring reentry eligibility), or for circumstances where the other mechanisms do not provide the specific relief needed. The pardon process is demanding, grants are rare, and the backlog as of early 2026 exceeded 1,700 pending applications. Understanding which category a specific situation falls into before applying saves significant time and frustration.
What New York offers: the forms of clemency
The Governor of New York has authority under Article IV, Section 4 of the New York Constitution to grant reprieves, commutations, and pardons after convictions for all offenses except treason and cases of impeachment. Clemency in New York is granted only under the most compelling circumstances.
A pardon forgives the offense and can restore civil rights lost due to the conviction. A commutation of sentence reduces or modifies the terms of an active sentence for someone currently incarcerated; it does not forgive the underlying conviction. A reprieve temporarily delays punishment, and is typically used in emergency situations.
When a pardon is considered in New York
New York's Executive Clemency framework provides that pardons are considered only when no other adequate administrative or legal remedy is available, in three specific circumstances: first, to set aside a conviction where there is overwhelming and convincing proof of innocence not available at the time of the conviction; second, to relieve a collateral disability (though New York notes this is rarely used because the Certificate of Good Conduct or Certificate of Relief from Disabilities generally provides adequate relief); and third, to prevent deportation or permit reentry for non-citizens whose immigration status is affected by a conviction.
The third circumstance is notably significant in New York's recent history. Governor Hochul and prior governors have granted pardons specifically to help people who face deportation or exclusion as a result of their conviction and who have demonstrated compelling rehabilitation. For non-citizens with conviction-based immigration consequences, a pardon is one of the few mechanisms that may provide relief from the immigration collateral consequences of a state conviction, and it has been one of the more active uses of the pardon power in New York in recent years.
Who decides: the Governor and the Executive Clemency Bureau
The Governor of New York holds final and exclusive authority on all clemency decisions. The Executive Clemency Bureau, a unit within DOCCS, assists the Governor's Office by screening candidates for eligibility requirements, gathering materials concerning applications, and responding to applicants and their representatives. The Bureau is the receiving point for all applications; it processes them, compiles past criminal records and any records from incarceration, and forwards completed application packages to the Governor's Office for final review.
Governor Hochul convened a Clemency Advisory Panel of impartial experts to assist in advising on applications. The Panel's recommendations inform the Governor's decisions but do not bind the Governor's final determination. The Governor's Office has also implemented a system of sending regular status update letters to applicants with pending applications, informing them of their case status and how to submit supplemental information. The online hub at ny.gov has been updated with template application forms for both pardons and commutations to help prospective applicants understand what information to include.
Who is eligible and how to apply
Pardons apply only to New York state court convictions. Federal convictions and out-of-state convictions are not eligible. Applicants must generally have successfully completed all court-imposed requirements connected to the conviction and sentence, including any probation, parole, payment of fines, and restitution. Other key factors considered are the evidence of rehabilitation, the amount of time that has passed since the conviction and since the completion of sentence, and a specific compelling need for the pardon that cannot be addressed through other available relief mechanisms.
To apply, download the pardon application form from ny.gov/services/apply-clemency. The application may be submitted by the applicant, by the applicant's attorney, or by another representative such as a family member. The completed application packet, along with any supporting documents, letters of support, certificates, diplomas, and proof of other accomplishments, is submitted to the Executive Clemency Bureau at DOCCS. After submission, the applicant is notified in writing when the application has been received. There is no fee to apply.
The application should include conviction details and the sentence imposed, a complete account of rehabilitation including employment history, family circumstances, educational achievements, and community involvement since the conviction, a personal statement explaining what has changed since the offense, and letters of support from people in the community. Critically, the application should clearly explain why a pardon is needed and why other available forms of relief such as a CRD, CGC, or sealing are inadequate for the specific situation. The clearer and more specific this explanation, the stronger the application.
The youth pardon program
New York has maintained a special program to consider clemency for offenses committed when the person was 16 or 17 years old. This program was established under Governor Cuomo and was described as potentially applicable to roughly 10,000 people convicted of misdemeanors or non-violent felonies committed at that age. In its current form, separate application forms exist specifically for this program and are available at ny.gov/services/apply-clemency. Under this youth pardon initiative, the pardon may also be connected to sealing the underlying record, which distinguishes it from the standard pardon process where sealing is not automatic. Anyone whose conviction occurred at age 16 or 17 should check the current program description at ny.gov before applying through the standard process, since the youth program may provide a more tailored and complete form of relief.
What a pardon does and does not do in New York
A New York pardon can restore civil rights lost due to the conviction, including the right to serve on a jury, the right to hold public office (depending on the offense), and various licensing eligibilities that were barred by the conviction. A pardon provides broader relief from collateral consequences than a CRD or CGC, and for serious offenses that exceed those mechanisms, it is the primary executive remedy.
A pardon does not automatically seal or expunge the conviction; the record remains public unless a separate sealing order is obtained through petition under CPL § 160.59 or through the Clean Slate Act's automatic sealing provisions. Applicants who receive a pardon and want their record sealed must pursue that separately through the court-based sealing process. The youth pardon program is an exception: pardons for offenses committed at age 16 or 17 have been connected to sealing under a separate program track.
Voting rights in New York were restored by Executive Order in 2021 to include people on parole; currently people who are released from incarceration have their voting rights restored immediately upon release from prison, so a pardon is not needed for voting for most people with completed or current supervision.
Firearms in New York require a license under the Sullivan Law, one of the most restrictive licensing regimes in the country. A pardon does not automatically restore the ability to possess a firearm; a separate license application is required, and licensing decisions are discretionary and can be denied independently of the pardon.
A note on federal convictions
If the conviction is a federal conviction, the Governor of New York cannot help. 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.
Where this leaves you
New York's pardon process is the last resort in a system that offers several other forms of relief that are more accessible and often more practical for most people. The Certificate of Relief from Disabilities, the Certificate of Good Conduct, petition-based sealing under CPL § 160.59, and the Clean Slate Act's automatic sealing all address collateral consequences without requiring a Governor's pardon. The pardon becomes necessary when those alternatives are unavailable or inadequate, most commonly in immigration-related situations where the conviction affects deportation or reentry, or in cases of claimed innocence where the conviction must be addressed at the executive level. For people who fall into one of the three circumstances where a pardon is considered, the Executive Clemency Bureau at DOCCS is the starting point. The application should clearly explain why the alternatives are insufficient for the specific situation, document the rehabilitation narrative in detail, and be supported by letters from people who can speak specifically to the applicant's conduct and community role since the conviction. Patience is essential; given the backlog of over 1,700 pending applications headed into 2026 and the periodic nature of the Governor's clemency grants, realistic timelines are measured in years rather than months.