People Change.
Records Can Too.
TWO-THIRDS
of those who apply for a pardon in
Pennsylvania actually get one!
If you are being held back by a conviction in Pennsylvania for a crime at least five years ago where no one was hurt, you need to know this good news. Since 2019, Pennsylvania has been leading the nation in pardon reform.
TWO-THIRDS
of those who apply for a pardon in
Pennsylvania actually get one!
the process is free, the form is short, you don’t need a lawyer, and hundreds and hundreds of people are being pardoned every year.
THANKS TO THE REFORMS, THERE IS A LARGE AND GROWING COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WITH CONVICTIONS IN THEIR PAST, WHO ARE COMING TOGETHER FROM AROUND THE STATE TO SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS, AND TO PUSH MORE CHANGE, SO THAT THERE WILL BE MORE PARDONS, FASTER. TO READ ABOUT THE PARDON PROJECT STEERING COMMITTEE, CLICK HERE. AND TO READ ABOUT THE FILM PARDON ME AND OUR “PARDONS FOR THE PEOPLE” CAMPAIGN, CLICK HERE.
YOU MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE FOR A FAST TRACK IF YOUR CRIMES WERE NOT VIOLENT AND HAPPENED AT LEAST 15 YEARS AGO … AND IF YOU ONLY HAD ONE CASE AGAINST YOU FOR A NON-VIOLENT CRIME, YOU COULD BE ELIGIBLE AFTER TEN YEARS…OR EVEN FIVE! CLICK HERE to see if you qualify.
News Alert
At its February session, the Board of Pardons heard 114 pardon applications. 76 were recommended and 33 denied. Another 38 were excused from attending and approved unanimously for a combined approval rate of 85.7%.
While this is terrific news for pardon applicants, the tragic news is that if the Board continues at this slow pace, it will make decisions on only 441 applications per year while over 2,000 new ones are being filed.
The Board and the Legislature simply must fix this problem. If not, an enormous number of applicants will be forced to wait many, many years for the second chances that they so clearly deserve. Want to help advocate for change? JOIN US.
Find a Pardon Project
Pardon Projects are countywide efforts that link together community organizations (called “Pardon Hubs”) that have been trained in the pardon form and process. They also have a list of volunteers (called “Pardon Coaches”) ready to help people fill out the application.
Click on the county name below to be directed to their website.
Allegheny County (PGH Pardon Hub)
Allegheny County (Bar Foundation)
Beaver County
Bedford County
Berks County
Bucks County
Cambria County
Chester County
Crawford County
Cumberland County
Dauphin County (in development)
Delaware County
Erie County
Franklin
Fulton
Huntingdon County
Lackawanna County
Lancaster County
Lehigh County
Monroe County
Montgomery County
Northampton County (in development)
Philadelphia County
— West Philadelphia
Schuylkill (in development)
Somerset County
Wayne County
Washington County
Westmoreland County (in development)
York County
Allegheny County (PGH Pardon Hub)
Allegheny County (Bar Foundation)
Beaver County
Bedford County
Berks County
Bucks County
Cambria County
Chester County
Cumberland County
Dauphin County (in development)
Delaware County
Erie County
Franklin
Fulton
Huntingdon County
Lackawanna County
Lancaster County
Lehigh County
Monroe County
Northampton County (in development)
Philadelphia County
—West Philadelphia
Schuylkill (in development)
Somerset County
Washington County
Wayne County
Westmoreland County (in development)
York County
If you are interested in forming a Pardon Project in your county, visit our Resources page or contact us.
You CAN
Do It Yourself!
You really CAN do it yourself.
If you have a question, write us:
info@papardonproject.org.
Click here for an 12-minute film about the PA Pardon Process by Pardon Fellow Zach Keasling
Click here for a Do-It-Yourself Pardon Guide (March 2026)
Click here for “How-To”: a series of 7 short videos
Click here for a video guide to using the new (July 2025) online pardon application
Click here for ten tips for using the new online pardon application
VISIT OUR VIDEO LIBRARY for lots of self-help videos.
Download the application form and instructions in English or in Spanish.
Download the list of documents you need to get from the courthouse in English or in Spanish.
Click here for a form motion to waive court fines, fees and costs if you are low-income
Click here for a petition to expunge summary offenses and non-conviction data
Click here to read about the new Fast Tracks to see if you quality
Let’s Get Started Creating Your New Future!
The Pardon Project began in 2018 as a part of Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity's service to its Philadelphia low-income clients with criminal records. Its first year report can be read here. When COVID-19 shut down direct operations, Tobey Oxholm (then PLSE's Executive Director) started teaching individuals and organizations about pardons via zoom. A greatly simplified application made it possible to engage with more volunteers, and the Project expanded to counties all around the state.
In 2025, the Pennsylvania Pardon Project was formed as a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation and received its 501c3 determination that same year. Contributions are tax-deductible as allowed by law and GREATLY appreciated, and should be mailed. New partners are welcome at all times. Copies of the organization's tax returns and policies are available upon request.
Contact Us
1 Watawga Way West
Gouldsboro, PA 18424
Translate