If you or someone you love has a conviction in Utah and is looking for a pardon, this guide is written for you. Utah has an unusual structure that sets it apart from most states in this series: the Governor does not grant pardons in Utah. Instead, the Utah Constitution formally establishes the Board of Pardons and Parole as an independent constitutional body with full pardon authority. Board members are nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate, but once appointed they act entirely independently of the executive branch. Another feature that distinguishes Utah: the first step in applying for a pardon is to apply for expungement through the Bureau of Criminal Identification, regardless of whether you believe you are eligible for expungement. You need the BCI denial letter from that process, identifying which convictions are not eligible for expungement, before the Board will consider the pardon application. This sequencing means that the pardon process cannot begin until the expungement application and denial are in hand. 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.
The Board holds all pardon authority: Utah's unique structure
Unlike most states in this series where the Governor grants pardons or acts on a board's recommendation, Utah's constitution (Article VII, Section 12) formally establishes the Board of Pardons and Parole as an independent constitutional body with full and final pardon authority. This is not a board that makes recommendations to the Governor for final decision; the Board makes the final decision itself. The Governor plays no role in granting or denying an individual pardon in Utah once Board members are appointed. This independence is a constitutional feature of Utah's system, not a policy that could be changed by executive order.
The Board has five full-time members and may have up to five pro tempore members. Members must be Utah residents, U.S. citizens, and must hold a post-graduate degree with at least seven years of experience in criminal justice, corrections, social or behavioral sciences, public administration, law, or related fields. Members may not hold any other government office and may not engage in any occupation inconsistent with their Board duties. Members serve five-year staggered terms. The Board is based in Murray, Utah, at 448 East Winchester, Suite 300, and conducts public hearings that are open to the public, victims, and other interested parties.
The Board can grant pardons or commutations of criminal convictions. A commutation modifies the record of the conviction to show a lower level of offense, which can help restore rights and re-open opportunities even if it falls short of a full pardon. The Board decides each case on an individual basis with no hard rules about what will or will not be pardoned; every application is evaluated on its own merits.
What a pardon does in Utah
Under current Utah law, a pardon can have the same legal effect as an expungement. This is significant: when the Board grants a pardon, the records of the courts, prosecutors, and police are sealed. The conviction no longer appears on the official Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) criminal history report. This is a stronger and more complete outcome than pardons in many other states in this series, which leave the conviction visible on background checks while noting the executive forgiveness. In Utah, the pardon can actually clear the record from the BCI report.
A pardon can restore important rights that were lost because of the conviction, including firearm ownership and professional licensing. Firearms restrictions are removed by expungement, by pardon, or in some cases by a reduction of a felony to a misdemeanor through Utah's 402 process. The pardon therefore serves a dual purpose: it is an official act of forgiveness and it functions as the legal vehicle for clearing the record.
After a pardon is granted and pardon orders are obtained, the applicant can request that BCI complete an expungement based on the pardon by completing the BCI application. This expungement request following the pardon is the step that formally seals the record.
Eligibility
Pardon applications are considered only after a significant period of exemplary citizenship and demonstrable evidence of rehabilitation. The Board's rules (Utah Admin. Code R671-315-1) generally require that at least five years have passed since the termination or expiration of all criminal offenses, sentences, and supervision on probation or parole. This five-year period must cover all offenses and all forms of supervision, not just the primary conviction; if a person has multiple convictions or overlapping supervision periods, all must be at least five years in the past. This five-year period is described as a general requirement rather than an absolute rule, but applicants who apply before five years have passed will face a substantial obstacle. The Board's overarching mission is to protect public safety through informed and just decisions that consider victim input, accountability, risk reduction, and rehabilitation; all pardon decisions are made in that framework.
The Board generally requires that all restitution, fines, and fees have been paid for any conviction for which a pardon is sought. Outstanding financial obligations are a significant negative factor in Board consideration.
The following offense types will not be considered by the Board for pardon: federal offenses; Class C misdemeanors; infractions; non-convictions; and offenses from other states. Federal convictions require a separate process through the Office of the Pardon Attorney within the United States Department of Justice. Out-of-state convictions require a pardon from the appropriate authority in that other state.
The application process step by step
Step one: apply for expungement through BCI. All pardon applicants must first apply for expungement through the Bureau of Criminal Identification at bci.utah.gov/expungements, regardless of whether they believe they are eligible. This step is required for everyone and cannot be skipped. After applying, the applicant must obtain a letter from BCI identifying which offenses are not eligible for expungement through BCI or the court. This BCI denial letter, along with the BCI Certificate List, are required documents for the pardon application. If income is at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, Clean Slate Utah may be able to cover the cost of the BCI expungement application fee ($65); visit their website to complete an intake form.
Step two: gather required documents. The application requires: a BCI criminal history report (obtained from bci.utah.gov/expungements); the BCI denial letter and BCI Certificate List from the expungement history; the court docket for each eligible conviction from the sentencing court listed on the BCI report; the police report for each eligible conviction; and the presentence investigation report for each eligible conviction, which can be obtained from the Utah Department of Corrections Records Office at (801) 545-5608. All documents must be uploaded in PDF format through MyPATH.
Step three: complete the online application via MyPATH. Pardon applications are submitted online through the Board's MyPATH system at bop.utah.gov/pardons. A Utah ID account login is required to access the system; instructions for creating a Utah ID account are available on the Board's website. All supporting documents must be scanned and uploaded in PDF format; photos or image files are not accepted. Most local public libraries offer scanning services for applicants who do not have scanning equipment. The Board encourages all applicants to use MyPATH and is phasing out paper applications; applicants who face genuine hardship with the online system may contact the pardon specialist at the Board to discuss alternatives.
Step four: public hearing. The Board holds a public hearing for each pardon request; this is not an optional step. In-person attendance at the hearing is mandatory; applicants must present their case in front of the full Board. This is the applicant's opportunity to speak directly to the Board members about the conviction, the rehabilitation accomplished since, and the reasons why a pardon is appropriate. The Board also considers input from victims as part of the process. Others may submit character references in support of the applicant, which should be emailed to the Board at the address listed on the website. After the hearing, the Board votes on whether to grant the pardon. Each case is decided on an individual basis with no fixed rules about what will or will not be pardoned; the Board exercises broad discretion.
Step five: after the decision. If the pardon is granted, pardon orders are issued. The applicant can then request that BCI complete an expungement based on the pardon by submitting the BCI expungement application and providing the pardon orders as supporting documentation. This BCI step, following the pardon, is what actually seals the conviction record. If the Board denies the pardon application, the applicant may reapply in the future after addressing the reasons for denial.
Contact: Utah Board of Pardons and Parole, 448 East Winchester, Suite 300, Murray, Utah 84107; telephone (801) 261-6464; bop.utah.gov. Office hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday, excluding state holidays. The pardon process can be lengthy and processing times can vary depending on application volume and the complexity of the case.
A note on expungement as an alternative
Before pursuing a pardon, it is worth evaluating whether expungement is available under Utah's expungement statutes. Utah's clean slate law authorizes automatic expungement for many non-conviction, infraction, and misdemeanor conviction records. Eligible felony convictions may also qualify for standard expungement through BCI after applicable waiting periods. If the conviction can be expunged through BCI, that process is generally more straightforward than the pardon. Expungement removes the record from public view and also removes firearms restrictions for eligible convictions. Clean Slate Utah is a nonprofit organization that can help people navigate both the expungement and pardon processes, sometimes at lower cost than hiring private counsel. An attorney can also evaluate which path is more appropriate and achievable for a specific set of convictions.
A note on federal convictions
If the conviction is a federal conviction, the Board of Pardons and Parole 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
Utah's pardon process starts before you even apply to the Board: the required first step is applying for expungement through BCI at bci.utah.gov/expungements and obtaining the BCI denial letter identifying which convictions are not eligible. Then gather the BCI criminal history report, BCI Certificate List, court dockets, police reports, and presentence investigation reports from the Utah DOC Records Office at (801) 545-5608. Submit everything through the Board's MyPATH system at bop.utah.gov/pardons using a Utah ID account. The Board holds a public hearing at which in-person attendance is mandatory; prepare to present the case directly to the Board and document the five or more years of exemplary citizenship and rehabilitation. The Board decides independently, on an individual-case basis. A pardon in Utah carries one of the strongest outcomes in this series: the conviction can be sealed from the official BCI record with the same effect as an expungement, and rights including firearms and professional licensing can be restored. Contact the Board at (801) 261-6464 or bop.utah.gov with questions, and consider whether Clean Slate Utah's free or reduced-cost assistance might help navigate the process.