On December 31, 2014, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced a new clemency web site to act as a central resource for those eligible for clemency to apply. In addition, the public may view the DOCCS directive 6901, Information Concerning Executive Clemency, here
Clemency, as defined by the State Constitution (Article IV, Section 4), provides the Governor "the power to grant reprieves, commutations and pardons after convictions for all offenses except treason and cases of impeachment, upon such conditions and with such restrictions and limitations, as he may think proper..." Only the Governor may grant clemency, and it is only granted under the most compelling circumstances.
Pardons may be considered if no other adequate administrative or legal remedy is available:
Commutation (reduction) of your minimum period of imprisonment may be considered to enable you to appear before the Board of Parole for release consideration at a time earlier than permitted by the court-imposed sentence.
Except in extraordinary circumstances, a case will be reviewed for possible commutation if
The Board of Parole is an independent body charged with the duty of determining which inmates sentenced to imprisonment and eligible for release on parole may be released, when they may be released and under what conditions. The Governor will, therefore, not intervene in such matters by considering for clemency any inmate who is eligible for parole release.
The Executive Clemency Bureau within the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision serves three primary functions
A two-page document entitled "Guidelines for Review of Executive Clemency Applications" is on file in the law library of each correctional facility for your reference.