If you or someone you love has a conviction in Vermont and is looking for a pardon, this guide is written for you. Vermont pardons are genuinely rare under the current administration. Governor Phil Scott, who took office in January 2017 and was reelected to a fifth term in 2024, had granted zero pardons in his first eight years in office while 117 people applied. That is not a data error; Governor Scott granted no pardons at all. Every governor who served before him granted at least some pardons, but the current administration has not granted any. Understanding that context is essential for anyone considering a Vermont pardon application: the formal process exists, the guidelines are clear, the application is available, and applicants should know who holds the power and how rarely it has been exercised in recent years. 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.
Who holds the pardon power in Vermont
Pardon authority is vested exclusively in the Governor under Chapter II, Section 20 of the Vermont Constitution, which states the Governor "shall have power to grant pardons and remit fines in all cases whatsoever," with the sole exception of treason. There is no pardon board or advisory board with independent authority; the Governor decides alone. The clemency power is absolute within its constitutional scope, and there is no other body or court whose approval is required.
Under Vermont Statute Title 28, Section 453, the parole board may, on request of the Governor, act as an advisory board to assist in investigating or hearing matters pertaining to pardons and may make recommendations. The parole board is composed of five members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate, who serve three-year terms. In practice, the parole board's role in the pardon process is limited and advisory only, and it is not clear what role if any the parole board has played in recent years; applications in recent years have been submitted directly to the Governor's office rather than through any formal board process.
The grant rate
Vermont governors have issued nearly 780 full pardons since 1950, so historically pardons have been part of the executive practice. Governors Thomas Salmon and Peter Shumlin account for more than half of those historical grants, and every governor before Scott granted at least one pardon during their term. But recent administrations have issued very few, and the current Governor has issued none at all. Governor Scott had zero pardons in eight years despite 117 applications. Governor Shumlin (2011 to 2017) issued sixteen regular pardons during his tenure and then added 192 marijuana possession pardons in a batch at the very end of his term. Governor Douglas (2003 to 2011) granted only 13 pardons over eight years. About 50 to 60 applications are received each year in Vermont, and very few are granted under recent administrations. This trend has made the Vermont pardon a substantially less reliable form of relief than it was in prior decades.
The reality is that applying for a Vermont pardon under the current administration requires patience with very uncertain prospects. Governor Scott still has time in office, and it is historically not uncommon for governors to issue pardons toward the end of their tenures, sometimes in batches. But for many applicants, Vermont's expanded expungement options may be a more productive path to pursue first.
Vermont's expungement option
Vermont has expanded its expungement laws in recent years, and many convictions that previously could only be addressed through a pardon can now be expunged through the court system. Expungement is generally a more straightforward and more reliable path than a pardon in Vermont because it does not depend on the Governor's political choices or the current administration's willingness to act. An attorney familiar with Vermont expungement law, or a legal aid organization in Vermont, can advise whether a specific conviction qualifies and what the applicable waiting period is. As of July 1, 2025, people with multiple DUI convictions can seek to have their records sealed after ten years, which expanded a category that was previously not eligible. If expungement is not available for the specific conviction, a pardon may be the only remaining path to relief.
The Governor's guidelines
The Governor's office has issued guidelines covering four criteria that applications must satisfy. These guidelines are included in the pardon application itself. Vermont's is a 14-page application.
Time: A substantial period of time must have passed since the date of conviction. Generally, the Governor requires a ten-year waiting period for a felony conviction and a five-year waiting period for a misdemeanor conviction. These are guideline periods, not absolute statutory bars, but applications that do not meet the time threshold face significant obstacles, and the time requirement is likely among the most carefully evaluated criteria. A pardon will not be considered for a person who is currently incarcerated or under sentence, except in very unusual circumstances where there is independent evidence of a gross miscarriage of justice not reviewable through the courts.
Social behavior since conviction: The applicant's behavior since the conviction must have been exemplary. A significant or outstanding contribution to family and community should be demonstrated. Incident-free behavior alone is not sufficient; the standard expects documented affirmative contributions to family and community beyond simply staying out of trouble.
Employment: The application should demonstrate stable, consistent employment history since the conviction, or a satisfying explanation for any periods without employment. A track record of responsible and productive work is a positive factor, and gaps in employment should be addressed directly rather than left unexplained.
Need: There must be a demonstrated compelling need for the pardon. The application should articulate specifically what the pardon would enable that is not otherwise possible, and why the pardon is the necessary and appropriate remedy for that specific need.
Additional requirements: The applicant must be current on payment of taxes and child support, and must have good credit. Four letters of recommendation must be submitted with the application. The letters should speak specifically to the applicant's character and conduct since the conviction, not just express general support; the stronger the specific factual content about the applicant's rehabilitation, the more useful the letter is to the process.
The application process
Step one: obtain the application. The pardon application is available for download at governor.vermont.gov/content/pardon-request. A paper copy can be requested by calling the Governor's office at (802) 828-3333 or toll-free at (800) 649-6825. There is no fee to apply. All applications must be obtained directly from the Governor's office; applications obtained from other individuals or entities may be rejected.
Step two: complete the application. The 14-page application should be typed or clearly printed. All questions must be answered; non-applicable questions should be marked "n/a." If the space provided is not sufficient for any answer, additional pages may be attached behind the relevant section. The application must include the four required letters of recommendation from individuals who know the applicant and can speak specifically to the applicant's rehabilitation and character since the conviction. By submitting the application, the applicant consents to the release of the criminal record to the Governor and to the public release of the applicant's name, which means the application and name are not necessarily kept confidential.
Step three: submit to the Pardon Coordinator. Return the completed application and all supporting materials, including the four letters of recommendation, to: Pardon Coordinator, Office of the Governor, 109 State Street, Montpelier, Vermont 05609-0101.
Step four: review. After receiving the application, the parole board staff determines eligibility according to unstated criteria. If a person is deemed eligible to proceed, the parole board investigates the case, consults with the district attorney and the sentencing court, and prepares a confidential recommendation to the Governor. This investigation process is conducted without any in-person hearing; there is no provision for the applicant to appear before the parole board or any reviewing body to make the case in person. The Governor then reviews the confidential recommendation and decides whether to grant or deny the pardon. There is no opportunity for the applicant to respond to or even see the confidential recommendation before the Governor decides. The process takes a minimum of several months to complete, and can take considerably longer given the volume of applications and the complexity of individual cases. The contents of the application and related materials may be available through a public records request, so applicants should be aware that information disclosed in the application could potentially become public.
What a pardon does in Vermont
A Vermont pardon sets aside the conviction. Once pardoned, the conviction may not serve as a predicate offense or be the basis for denial of a license, though the underlying conduct may still be considered in appropriate circumstances. This means the pardon removes many of the collateral consequences of the conviction, including removing the ability to use the conviction as a disqualifying basis for licensing decisions in Vermont, even though the underlying conduct may still be relevant context in appropriate circumstances.
A pardon is separate from expungement. A pardon alone does not expunge the record from public view; the conviction remains in the official record but is noted as pardoned. Expungement is a separate court process and has its own eligibility criteria.
Vermont voting rights are not dependent on a pardon. Vermont allows people with felony convictions to vote, including from prison, making it one of only a very small number of states in the country with this policy; Maine is the only other state with this same rule. There is no voting rights disability from a felony conviction in Vermont, and a pardon is not needed for voting.
A note on federal convictions
If the conviction is a federal conviction, the Governor of Vermont 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
Vermont's pardon process is fully operational on paper: applications are available, the Governor has exclusive pardon authority under the state constitution, and the guidelines are clear. The practical reality is that the current Governor has granted zero pardons in eight years despite 117 applications, making the formal process meaningful in theory but with near-zero recent outcomes under this administration. For most people with a Vermont conviction, the first question to answer is whether expungement is available, because it is a more reliable and more predictable path to clearing the record. For those whose convictions do not qualify for expungement, or who have a specific compelling need that only a pardon can address, download the application from governor.vermont.gov/content/pardon-request or call (802) 828-3333 to request a paper copy. Satisfy all four guideline criteria, include four letters of recommendation that speak specifically to rehabilitation, and include documentation of current compliance with taxes and child support obligations. Submit the complete package to the Pardon Coordinator, Office of the Governor, 109 State Street, Montpelier, Vermont 05609-0101, and be prepared for a review process that takes at minimum several months with no guarantee of any outcome.