MADISON ? Gov. Tony Evers announced today that he has granted another 153 pardons, bringing his total number of pardons granted to 1,264.

?Learning about the lives, jobs, and families of the folks who?ve worked hard to learn and grow from their past mistakes continues to be one of many rewarding parts of my job as governor,? said Gov. Evers. ?I am glad we have been able to give so many people a second chance so they can continue their work giving back.?

The Wisconsin Constitution grants the governor the power to pardon individuals convicted of a crime. A pardon is an official act of forgiveness that restores rights lost when someone is convicted of a felony, including the right to serve on a jury, hold public office, and hold certain professional licenses. A pardon does not expunge court records.??

Under Executive Order #30, individuals convicted of a Wisconsin felony may apply for a pardon if they completed their sentence at least five years ago and have no pending criminal charges. Individuals currently required to register on the sex offender registry are ineligible for a pardon. Executive Order #130 established an expedited review process for applications that meet stricter criteria, including a greater length of time elapsed since sentence completion and nonviolent nature of the offenses. ??

The pardon application, instructions, and answers to frequently asked questions about the pardon process can be found on the governor?s website at www.evers.wi.gov/pardons.???