Pardons for Progress

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Pardons for Progress is a City of Birmingham initiative, announced by Mayor Randall Woodfin in November 2019, to provide a path toward issuing pardons to those convicted of marijuana-related misdemeanors in Birmingham Municipal Court.

The program was founded in a state law that allows mayors to commute sentences for low-level municipal offenses. Its intent was to reduce the effect of inequities in drug prosecutions and to get more residents, particularly young males, back into the workforce. To that end, program staff were prepared to make referrals to educational, job training, and job placement programs. Birmingham's program does not benefit those convicted in state or federal courts.

It was estimated that as many as 6,000 individuals could benefit from having their records expunged. Though there was no charge for the Pardons for Progress program, applicants must have resolved all of their court fines and fees, and then complete a form and mail it with copies of government-issued identification. City staff used the documents to determine eligibility, and forwarded names to a review committee which was empowered to grant pardons.

The city publicized the initiative through radio and newspaper advertisements, social media posts, and direct mail notices. By April 12, 2021 only 56 persons had applied, of which half did not qualify because their convictions were from other jurisdictions. Of the remaining 28, 9 pardons were granted, 8 were found not to qualify for other reasons, and 11 cases were still pending.

On April 20, Woodfin announced that his office would issue "blanket pardons" for more than 15,000 individuals with closed marijuana possession convictions from Birmingham Municipal Court between 1990 and 2020. Unresolved cases and future cases were not affected by the mayor's action.

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