FY 2012 Statistical Examination Presidential Pardons

BJS is pleased to announce that it is seeking applications for an examination of the processing of petitions for Presidential Pardons. In the federal justice system, commutation of sentence and pardon are different forms of executive clemency, which is a broad term that applies to the President’s constitutional power to exercise leniency toward persons who have committed federal crimes. The purpose of this program is to examine how petitions for pardon are adjudicated by the Justice Department’s Office of the Pardon Attorney. The Pardon Attorney reviews and investigates pardon applications, and prepares the Department’s recommendation to the President. Under section 302 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act, BJS is authorized to “provide information to the President, the Congress, the judiciary, state, tribal, and local governments, and the general public on justice statistics.”