ent cannabis offenses
The Office of the Pardon Attorney (PARDON) Requests $12.5 Million for FY 2025 Budget to Address Increase in Clemency Applications
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has its hands full as the Office of the Pardon Attorney (PARDON) prepares for the upcoming fiscal year. PARDON, responsible for overseeing the executive clemency process, has recently released its FY 2025 President’s Budget Submission, outlining its plans to tackle the growing number of clemency applications.
In order to effectively carry out its duties, PARDON is requesting $12,568,000 in funds for the next fiscal year. This budget would allow for the addition of 40 new positions, including 26 attorneys, to assist in reviewing and investigating clemency applications and providing recommendations to the president.
Increase in Clemency Applications Poses Challenges for PARDON
One of the main challenges facing PARDON is the significant increase in clemency applications in recent years. The report notes that prior to FY 2014, the office only had 11 staff positions, which was enough to handle the approximately 600 applications received annually. However, between FY 2012 and FY 2023, PARDON received a staggering 52,065 applications.
This increase in applications is largely due to the recent surge in clemency requests related to cannabis offenses. PARDON acknowledges this trend, stating that it “expects to continue to receive incoming clemency cases, both pursuant to ordinary case submissions…and to the President’s October 2022 and December 2023 Proclamations pardoning individuals convicted of simple possession of marijuana.”
As of February 2024, PARDON has issued 171 pardon certificates, with a total of 184 issued since 2023. The report emphasizes that these certificates are only granted after a thorough investigation of the case has been conducted.
PARDON Aims to Increase Efficiency with Additional Resources
In order to keep up with the influx of clemency applications, PARDON is seeking to increase its resources. The FY 2025 budget request would allow the office to not only continue reviewing and addressing pending cases, but also to evaluate capital cases and process the submissions related to the two Presidential Proclamations on marijuana.
PARDON has set a goal of issuing 80% of marijuana certificates to eligible recipients within 30 days of receiving their application in FY 2024.
President Biden’s Promises for Cannabis Pardons
In October 2022, President Joe Biden announced his plans to pardon federal cannabis prisoners and review the current classification of cannabis. The DOJ began conducting investigations for pardon applications in March 2023, but did not start issuing certificates until after September 2023, per Biden’s order.
The DOJ also held a public comment period from March 2023 to August 2023 to gather information on how to “expeditiously” act on Biden’s order to grant pardons for simple cannabis possession.
In December 2023, Biden followed through on his promise by pardoning 11 individuals with non-violent cannabis offenses.
