{"id":13,"date":"2024-11-15T22:18:04","date_gmt":"2024-11-15T22:18:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/illinoispardonlawyer.com\/?p=13"},"modified":"2026-03-31T15:14:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T15:14:49","slug":"how-is-a-pardon-different-fron-a-commutation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/illinoispardonlawyer.com\/index.php\/2024\/11\/15\/how-is-a-pardon-different-fron-a-commutation\/","title":{"rendered":"How is a Pardon Different from a Commutation?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

(Updated March 31, 2026<\/strong>:\u00a0Illinois now allows a prisoner the option of appearing at a prehearing online prior to the hearing for commutation before the Illinois Prisoner Review Board.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You have a loved one in prison. He hung out with the wrong crowd and got involved in a robbery. You want to shorten what seems like an unfair sentence. Are you looking for a commutation or a pardon?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It depends on whether your loved one has completed his or her sentence. If you want to get someone out of prison, a commutation could shorten their sentence. If your loved one has completed their sentence and cannot seal or expunge their record, they can petition for a pardon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A commutation can be granted for health reasons or if it appears your loved one has learned from their mistakes and deserves a second chance. Note that a commutation is not an appeal. Rather than asserting your loved one is innocent or that mistakes were made at trial, a petition for commutation typically involves accepting responsibility for the underlying offense and showing how he or she has changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In contrast, a pardon enables the governor to nullify a conviction, one for which a sentence (in or out of prison) has already been satisfied. A pardon typically allows a defendant to expunge their criminal record, though the final order to do so will be at the discretion of a judge in the county where the case originated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Either petition for commutation or pardon generally includes character references along with other exhibits, which are then sent to the Illinois Board of Prison Review. The Board makes a recommendation to the governor who then makes the final decision. Your loved one may ask for a public hearing before the Board. For a commutation, your loved one will not be allowed to appear in person at the hearing, but you can still testify on their behalf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have questions about petitioning for a pardon or commutation, please contact Matt Keenan at 847-568-0160 or email matt@mattkeenanlaw.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Besides Skokie, Matt Keenan also serves the communities of Arlington Heights, Chicago, Deerfield, Des Plaines, Evanston, Glenview, Morton Grove, Mount Prospect, Niles, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Rolling Meadows, Wilmette and Winnetka.)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Updated March 31, 2026:\u00a0Illinois now allows a prisoner the option of appearing at a prehearing online prior to the hearing for commutation before the Illinois Prisoner Review Board.) You have a loved one in prison. He hung out with the wrong crowd and got involved in a robbery. You want to shorten what seems like … Continue reading How is a Pardon Different from a Commutation?<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nHow is a Pardon Different from a Commutation? - Illinois Pardon Lawyer<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you are still in prison, you can petition the governor for a commutation to shorten your sentence. 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