Does a person need a lawyer to file for a commutation or pardon?
Not necessarily. In most states and at the federal level, commutation and pardon application forms are straightforward, relatively short, and easy to understand and fill out. Many prisoners may be able to fill out the forms by themselves or with the help of family or friends. If a prisoner has difficulty reading or writing in English, or there are legal issues the prisoner wants to raise in the application, a lawyer’s help might be needed. If a person feels they need legal help to file a clemency application, they should seek that help.
