Early Christmas Gift For Convicts As Jerry Brown Grants Pardons

SACRAMENTO, CA -- Gov. Jerry Brown on Saturday granted 132 pardons and 19 commutations statewide. Brown's office said those who were granted pardons all completed their sentences and the majority were convicted of drug-related or other nonviolent crimes.

Among those who were granted commutations include a Los Angeles County woman who hired her brother to kill her abusive husband, a Los Angeles County man who was convicted of first degree murder when he was just 17 years old, and an Orange County man who was convicted of attempting to murder another person when he was just 16 years old.

A gubernatorial pardon is granted to individuals who have demonstrated exemplary behavior and have lived productive and law-abiding lives following their conviction. The process includes eligible individuals obtaining a Certificate of Rehabilitation, which is an order from a superior court declaring that a person convicted of a crime is now rehabilitated, Brown's office said in a press release.

For the majority of the 19 commutations, the individuals were granted the opportunity to make their case before the Board of Parole Hearings.

Copies of the gubernatorial pardons and commutations can be found here.

--Photo courtesy of the office of Gov. Jerry Brown