Commutations can cut short a prison sentence or time on parole, and are generally issued by the governor as part of their executive power. Commutations are allowed in the Wisconsin Constitution, but the last ones were issued by former Governor Tommy Thompson in 2001.

A pair of executive orders Governor Evers announced last week aim to restart the process after more than twenty-five years.

Mark Rice is the Transformational Justice Campaign Coordinator at WISDOM, a statewide advocacy network. He joined our News Producer Faye Parks to explain why the pause on commutations has lasted so long and what else can be done to reform Wisconsin’s carceral system.

Image courtesy: Governor Tony Evers via YouTube, announcing the executive orders restoring Wisconsin’s commutations process.