How Illinois pardons work

SPRINGFIELD — Former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour faces heat for the way he issued more than 200 last-minute pardons, even though some of those pardoned didn’t give published advance notice they were seeking one.

Here’s how the process works in Illinois:

First, someone who is convicted has to submit a typewritten petition to the Illinois Prisoner Review Board, the local state’s attorney office that handled the prosecution and the sentencing judge or chief local judge.

The petitioner can ask for a public hearing if he or she wants one. Then, the Prisoner Review Board sends a private recommendation to the governor.

The Illinois Constitution gives the governor full authority to pardon or commute the sentences of state criminals.

In recent years, Gov. Pat Quinn has been releasing news of pardons on occasional weekday afternoons. They come without warning.

For years, Gov. Rod Blagojevich largely ignored thousands of petitions, and they started to pile up. Quinn has been chipping away at that total during his time in office.

Quinn last used his power on Dec. 6 of last year, granting 75 petitions and denying 175 more. His office at the time said he’s acted on 1,735 petitions so far.

More than 2,500 accumulated during Blagojevich’s time in office.

Quinn’s last round included the pardon of Ida Mae West, who was convicted of the 1965 killing of her husband in Chicago.