Wisconsin Governor Grants Commutations to 14 People, First Since Thompson Administration
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers announced in Madison on November 13 that he has granted commutations to 14 individuals, becoming the first Wisconsin governor since former Governor Tommy Thompson, the state's 42nd governor, to grant a commutation.
Earlier this year Evers signed two executive orders reinstating the state's commutation process for the first time in decades. Executive Order #287 states that granting commutations promotes rehabilitation by rewarding incarcerated individuals who demonstrate personal growth and a commitment to change with the possibility of a second chance to contribute to society.
The governor's office said a commutation differs from a pardon: a pardon restores certain civil rights and offers forgiveness after an individual has completed an entire sentence, while a commutation may reduce a sentence an individual is currently serving. A commutation does not necessarily mean the individual will be released or have a sentence shortened; it may, for example, make someone eligible for supervised release or parole consideration earlier.
The 14 recipients were considered and recommended by the Governor's Commutation Advisory Board, whose members have extensive experience in law enforcement, criminal law and victim advocacy. The board heard 24 individuals at public hearings on August 21 and September 18, 2026, and the remaining 10 applications were denied. Under Executive Order #287 the board considers the impact on victims and community members, consistency with public safety and the interests of justice, an applicant's prison conduct record, and personal growth since conviction, including rehabilitative programs, treatment, education and work history.
The governor's office said Evers has granted more than 2,443 pardons during his tenure, more than any other governor in Wisconsin history. Under the current pardon process, individuals are eligible only after completing their entire sentence and being off paper for at least five years, and are not eligible if they are registered sex offenders or have pending criminal cases. The list of commutation recipients was published with the governor's release.
(Source: Office of the Governor of Wisconsin)
Source: Office of the Governor of Wisconsin
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于 Madison 的威斯康星州议会大厦，Michael Barera 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: The Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, by Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
