Plain English Breakdown
The official text confirms the law expires after 225 days of taking effect, which aligns with the provided dates.
Temporary Rule Change for Clemency Board Waivers
This law temporarily allows the D.C. Clemency Board to skip a five-year waiting period for pardon applicants if they have already received approval from federal officials.
What This Bill Does
- Adds a new rule allowing the Clemency Board to waive the standard five-year wait time before reviewing a pardon request upon written application.
- Requires that the Office of the Pardon Attorney or the President must first grant a waiver under Department of Justice rules before the Board can act.
- Stops the Board from granting waivers if an applicant is currently on probation, parole, or supervised release.
- Allows the Board to ask for more information or meet with applicants to discuss their request.
- Requires the Board to send a written notice to the applicant stating whether they approved or denied the waiver.
- Pauses all other parts of an application until the Board makes a decision on this specific waiver request.
Who It Names or Affects
- People in Washington, D.C. who are applying for a pardon and want to skip the five-year waiting period.
- The District of Columbia Clemency Board members who review these requests.
- The Office of the Pardon Attorney within the Department of Justice.
Terms To Know
- Clemency Board
- A group in Washington, D.C. that reviews applications for pardons and other relief from criminal penalties.
- Waiver
- Official permission to ignore a specific rule or requirement, such as the five-year waiting period.
- Pardon Attorney
- A lawyer in the U.S. Department of Justice who handles requests for presidential pardons and waivers.
Limits and Unknowns
- This law only works from July 24, 2025, until January 21, 2026.
- The Clemency Board can still say no to a waiver even if the Pardon Attorney or President has already approved it.