If you or someone you love has a conviction in South Carolina and is looking for a pardon, this guide is written for you. South Carolina stands out in this series for two reasons. First, the Governor does not grant pardons in South Carolina; that authority belongs to the seven-member Board of Paroles and Pardons by constitutional design. Second, South Carolina's pardon grant rate is unusually high compared to most other states: in 2017, approximately 70 percent of applicants who applied received a pardon, and the Board has historically granted around 60 pardons at each bi-monthly hearing. For people who meet the eligibility requirements, have paid all restitution, and can document their rehabilitation, South Carolina's pardon is one of the more accessible and frequently granted in this series. 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 South Carolina offers: the Board grants all pardons
The Governor of South Carolina has very limited clemency authority under the state constitution. The Governor may grant reprieves and may commute a sentence of death to a sentence of life imprisonment, but for all other pardons the constitution vests the authority in the Board of Paroles and Pardons, not the Governor. This is a significant structural feature: many people assume the Governor grants pardons, but in South Carolina that power belongs constitutionally to the Board. If you contact the Governor's office about a pardon, you will be redirected to the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, which administers the process.
The Board of Paroles and Pardons is a seven-member body, with one member from each of South Carolina's congressional districts. All members are appointed by the Governor with Senate approval and serve six-year staggered terms, and they can be reappointed. An Order of Pardon must be signed by at least two-thirds of the Board members, meaning at least five of the seven must agree before a pardon is granted. The positions of chairman, vice-chairman, and secretary are elected by a majority vote of the Board itself.
South Carolina's pardon is defined as full forgiveness from all the legal consequences of the crime and conviction, direct and collateral, including the punishment, whether of imprisonment, pecuniary penalty, or whatever else the law has provided. This is one of the strongest and most comprehensive pardon definitions in this series.
Who is eligible and what the timelines are
The SC Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services (SCDPPPS) administers the application and investigation process. The Board considers applications under the following timeline guidelines:
Probationers are eligible to be considered for a pardon any time after discharge from supervision, provided all restitution and collection fees have been paid in full.
Parolees are eligible any time after the successful completion of five years under supervision, or any time after the date of discharge if they have successfully completed the maximum parole period where that period is less than five years.
Persons discharged from their sentence may be considered any time after the date of discharge, provided all restitution has been paid in full.
Currently incarcerated inmates not yet parole eligible may only be considered upon proof of extraordinary circumstances; this is a very high bar and very rarely results in a grant. Inmates who have passed their first parole eligibility date should not apply for a pardon through this process; the pardon is for those who have completed their sentence or significant supervision time.
A victim of the crime or a family member living within the state of South Carolina may also petition for a pardon on behalf of a person who has completed supervision or been discharged from a sentence. This is a less common route but is explicitly authorized under § 24-21-950(A)(5).
Pending criminal cases, federal convictions, and out-of-state convictions are not eligible for a South Carolina pardon. The pardon applies only to South Carolina state court convictions.
The restitution requirement
No pardon application will be considered until all restitution has been paid in full, including any restitution that has been converted to a civil judgment (§ 17-25-322). It is the applicant's responsibility to attach a certified statement from the appropriate authority confirming that all restitution payments have been made. This is a hard requirement; any outstanding restitution results in denial before the application even reaches the Board. Other fines and fees beyond restitution are not an absolute bar the same way restitution is, but the Board is informed of any unpaid fines and fees when reviewing the case, and unpaid obligations reflect poorly on the application. Get all financial obligations resolved before submitting.
The application process step by step
Step one: prepare the application. The application is available at ppp.sc.gov. The application must be filled out completely, signed, and dated by the applicant. The Release of Information section must also be completed and notarized.
Step two: attach required documents. The application must include certified proof that all restitution has been paid in full; attach the certified statement from the appropriate authority confirming these payments. Letters of support are also required: three letters from individuals who are not related to the applicant by birth or marriage, each signed and dated within the past six months, and each specifically stating their support for the pardon. Support letters should speak to the applicant's character, conduct since conviction, and rehabilitation, not merely describe the writer's relationship with the applicant. A personal statement explaining the applicant's circumstances, rehabilitation, and specific reasons for seeking the pardon should also be included.
Step three: pay the fee. A non-refundable $100 application fee must be included in the form of a USPS money order or a cashier's check from a certified financial institution, made payable to the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services. Applications without this fee will be returned without being processed.
Step four: submit to SCDPPPS. Mail the completed application package to: SCDPPPS, P.O. Box 50666, Columbia, South Carolina 29250. Call (803) 734-3295 for assistance, to confirm the current mailing address, and for further information about the process.
Step five: investigation and hearing. After receiving a complete application, SCDPPPS investigates the case. The process typically takes four to six months from receipt of the application to scheduling a hearing date for in-state applicants, though some sources indicate the timeline can be closer to seven to nine months depending on volume. At the hearing, the Board reviews the application and the investigation findings and may ask questions of the applicant. The applicant is encouraged to be present and to be prepared to speak to their rehabilitation, the circumstances of the offense, and why the pardon is being sought.
Step six: Board decision. A pardon order must be signed by at least five of the seven Board members (at least two-thirds). If granted, SCDPPPS issues a Pardon Certificate. The Board's decision is the final determination of pardon eligibility; there is no appeal of a denial. If denied, the applicant must wait one year before reapplying under § 24-21-960(B).
What a pardon does in South Carolina
A South Carolina pardon fully restores all civil rights lost as a result of the conviction, including: the right to register to vote and to vote; the right to serve on a jury; the right to hold public office (except as provided in § 16-13-210); the right to testify without having the conviction used for impeachment purposes; and the right to be licensed for any occupation that requires a license.
Voting rights in South Carolina are restored upon receiving a pardon. The right to register to vote and to vote are among the seven civil rights specifically listed as restored by a pardon under § 24-21-990. A pardon is generally required to restore voting rights for people who lost them due to a felony conviction.
For firearms, South Carolina has two statutes restricting possession by people with certain convictions, and they cover different categories. Under § 16-23-500, the ban on certain individuals possessing firearms does not apply to anyone whose conviction has been "expunged, or set aside or for which a person has been pardoned or has had civil rights restored" unless the pardon expressly prohibits firearm possession. A standard South Carolina pardon that restores civil rights without expressly restricting firearms effectively restores the right to possess firearms under state law. Federal firearms restrictions under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) may still apply independently and should be verified separately with a qualified attorney before attempting to purchase or possess a firearm.
A pardon does not expunge or erase the criminal record. The conviction will remain visible on background checks with a notation that the person has been pardoned. Many employers, landlords, and licensing agencies treat a pardoned conviction significantly more favorably than an unaddressed one, and the applicant can attach a copy of the Pardon Certificate to job applications and licensing submissions to demonstrate the formal act of forgiveness. The Governor of South Carolina has no authority to expunge a criminal record; expungement can only occur through a court process under South Carolina's separate expungement statutes.
A note on the grant rate
South Carolina's grant rate is notable and distinguishes it from most other states in this series where pardons are rare or very selective. Between 2007 and 2017, the Board approved approximately 60 pardons at each bi-monthly hearing, roughly 400 per year, with approximately 65 percent of cases heard resulting in a grant. In 2017 specifically, South Carolina Appleseed reported that approximately 70 percent of applicants received a pardon: 481 of 692 people who applied were granted one. This does not mean pardons are automatic or guaranteed; the investigation, the restitution requirement, and the waiting period are real gates. But it does mean that for people who genuinely qualify, have fully paid restitution, have completed the appropriate waiting period, and can document meaningful rehabilitation through letters and their own personal statement, South Carolina's pardon is one of the more accessible and regularly granted in this series.
A note on federal convictions
If the conviction is a federal conviction, the South Carolina Board of Paroles and 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.
Where this leaves you
South Carolina's pardon process is one of the more approachable in this series. The Board grants pardons rather than the Governor; the grant rate is around 70 percent for applicants who qualify; and the pardon definition is comprehensive, restoring all civil rights including firearms rights. The non-negotiable first steps are to ensure all restitution is paid in full with certified documentation proving payment, and to wait the appropriate period after discharge from supervision. Then pay the $100 non-refundable fee by USPS money order or cashier's check, complete the notarized application, attach three letters of support from non-family members dated within the past six months, and submit to SCDPPPS. The process takes four to six months from receipt to hearing for in-state applicants. If denied, wait one year before reapplying. Visit ppp.sc.gov or call (803) 734-3295 for current forms, guidance, and to confirm the current mailing address.