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Applicable Form of Executive Clemency: Time Reduction

Eligibility: All inmates are eligible to apply. With the written consent of the inmate, any other person may apply on the behalf of the inmate.

Inmates are eligible to apply once they become eligible for parole. In extraordinary circumstances, applications may be accepted prior to an inmate becoming parole eligible. If serving a life without mercy sentence, the inmate must have served 15 years before he or she is eligible to apply for time reduction.

No application will be accepted if the inmate is to be paroled or released in 90 days.

Any inmate who has been previously denied executive clemency by the Governor is not eligible to reapply until three years have passed from the date of the last application denial.

Application Process: Applications are available by contacting:

Governor Joe Manchin III
West Virginia State Capitol
Charleston, WV 25305
Tel: 1(888) 438-2731

Click here to view clemency forms. These forms are to use as samples only. The petitioner must request that application materials be sent from the above address. Failure to use the forms sent by the Governor's office may result in rejection of the application.

The application must be completed in full, including responses of "does not apply" where appropriate.

Note all concurrent or consecutive sentences separately on the application.

The applicant must sign the release of information statement on the application to give the West Virginia Division of Corrections and/or the West Virginia Board of Parole access to information regarding the applicant's medical condition, criminal history, treatment history, and plans.

An inmate who is not eligible for parole must include a separate letter that indicates their current parole eligibility status and provides an explanation of the extraordinary circumstances that warrant the early consideration of their clemency application. The Governor's office determines whether an inmate's circumstances justify early consideration.

Applicants are notified of the Governor's response within eight weeks of application submission.

The power to grant time reduction remains within the absolute discretion of the Governor. Nothing set forth in these guidelines should be construed to restrict the independent and sole authority of the Governor to act at his discretion in granting or denying a time reduction request or application.