Gov. Wolf Pardons 369 Convicts As He Prepares To Leave Office

HARRISBURG, PA — In his final days in office, Gov. Tom Wolf has granted pardons to 369 convicts from a wide range of backgrounds. His final round of pardons means he has granted second chances to 2,540 Pennsylvanians, far more than any other governor in history.

Pardons became a centerpiece of the relationship between Wolf and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, who chaired the state's Board of Pardons and used the positon to advocate aggressively for clemency of certain felons. The work helped to crystallize Fetterman's reputation as a criminal justice reformer and to build the resume that would get him elected to the U.S. Senate. And now it's a major part of Wolf's legacy, too.

“I have taken this process very seriously, reviewing and giving careful thought to each and every one of these 2,540 pardons and the lives they will impact," Gov. Wolf said in a statement. "Every single one of the Pennsylvanians who made it through the process truly deserves their second chance, and it’s been my honor to grant it."

The Pennsylvania Board of Pardons declined to provide a full list of individuals pardoned to Patch.

Among the latest round of pardons was Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill, whose conviction on drug charges became a national rallying point for criminal justice overhaul.

RELATED: Philly Rapper Meek Mill Gets Drug, Gun Pardon From Gov Tom Wolf

The previous record for a governor's pardons was 1,122 by Gov. Ed Rendell, which Wolf and Fetterman more than doubled.

Of those pardoned by Wolf, 395 of those were part of the expedited review process for nonviolent marijuana-related offenses and 232 were a part of the PA Marijuana Pardon Project, a special initiative which advocated hoped would give second chances to thousands. That program was specifically designed for those with non-violent offenses, and simplified the process of appealing for clemency, making it free and available available online.

In announcing the pardons, Wolf was adamant of their importance in producing a just society.

“A record prevents positive forward motion in a person’s life, and can spark a repetitive cycle of defeat," he added. "I firmly believe that with restored rights, pardoned Pennsylvanians prove themselves by stepping up and giving back to our communities."

Several pieces of sweeping legislation have been proposed in both chambers of the Pennsylvania legislature in recent years, laying out a framework for marijuana legalization that supporters say would both reignite the economy and overturn wasteful, unjust prison sentences. The Republican-led chambers have not moved the bills forward, however, leaving Wolf with executive action as his only option.

Wolf also touted the estimated $16.5 million boon to the Pennsylvania economy provided by reducing prison populations in the last 10 years.