Fall 2026 Update: 
Our clinic is taking a break in services from August - December 2026. 
This pause is in part due to the uncertain future of the pardon process as we transition to a new WI Governor, who will be elected in Nov. 2026 and take office early Jan. 2027.  The new governor could change the pardon application questions, process, and eligibility.  They could even decide not to issue pardons at all in their term. 
Our clinic will take the early months of 2027 to assess where the pardon process stands with the new administration and how to best help folks going forward.  In the meantime, you can use this page to review info on expungement eligibility, as well as current info on pardon eligibility and the pardon process (knowing it is all subject to change).  
You can check back in with us starting in January 2026 for more updates and guidance. 

Quick Info on Expungement/Pardon Eligibility
 
Can you get your criminal conviction expunged? 
Getting a case expunged removes it from the public (CCAP) record. Wisconsin's expungement law is extremely narrow, so most people can't get their cases expunged.  The key eligibility requirements are as follows:​​​​
  • You were 24 or younger (under age 25) and the case was from 2009 or later.
  • The judge found your case eligible at the sentencing hearing.  There's no way to ask for it later!
  • If the judge found your case eligible and you successfully completed your jail/probation sentence, the case should already be expunged (you shouldn't need to write the court or do anything additional--the probation agency should simply notify the court to expunge the case).  If it's still on CCAP, it usually means some aspect of your sentence wasn't successfully completed, and the case can no longer be expunged.
    • One of the most common reasons people who were found eligible for expungement can't actually get their case expunged is because they still owed a balance when they were discharged.  Other common reasons are if the person picked up new charges while on probation or had probation violations/were revoked from probation. 
​Note: If the judge found you eligible for expungement and you were not ordered to serve any probation or jail/prison time (for fine-only cases), complete and submit the following forms to the sentencing court:
CR-266
CR-267
What is the best way to get a case expunged?  Think proactively:
1)  Ask for it (/have your attorney do so) at your sentencing hearing (before the case is over)! This is the only time you can do so.
2)  If the judge found you eligible for expungement at sentencing, make sure you follow ALL conditions of the sentence set by the court and the probation agency. AND, make sure you pay ALL court costs/fees (including supervision fees) BEFORE you are discharged!

Are you eligible for a pardon of your Wisconsin felony case?
A pardon acts as a grant of forgiveness and restores rights lost as a result of a felony conviction.  To be eligible to apply for a pardon, all of the following must be true: ​
  • You have at least 1 Wisconsin felony conviction. 
  • It's been at least 5 years since you completed ANY criminal sentence (including sentences for more recent misdemeanor cases, which can't be pardoned). Completing a sentence means serving all jail/prison time AND probation/extended supervision.
  • You have no pending/open criminal cases or charges. 
  • You are not currently on the sex offender registry. ​

If you are eligible for a pardon, please read the important information and updates below as you consider whether/when/how to work on the pardon application:
  • As of August 2026, our volunteer pardon application clinics are on hiatus, and our team is unable to provide assistance or answer questions until at least January 2026.  The soonest our Zoom pardon application clinics could return is summer 2027.
  • Governor Evers' administration will end on Jan. 4, 2027.  It's been taking the Pardon Advisory Board at least 12-24 months to review and process pardon applications.  This means applications submitted now will probably not make it in time to be reviewed by the current administration. 
  • It may be best to take this time to review the materials/process, gather supporting documentation, and focus on your continued growth and progress.
  • If you want to work on the process on your own (knowing everything could change in early 2027), we have compiled helpful resources and links below.

Pardon Resources