Clear tools. Community support. A fair chance to be seen.
Support For the Wisconsin
commutation Application
Justice Forward Wisconsin created this page to help incarcerated people, families, and community members better understand Wisconsin’s commutation process. Whether you are preparing an application, supporting a loved one, or volunteering to review applications, these resources are designed to make the process more accessible, organized, and human.
Commutation is not just paperwork. It is a chance to tell the story of growth, accountability, healing, and readiness for reentry.
All information provided is for educational purposes only. None of the information is to be considered legal advice.
How to's and guides
Our Commutation Resource Guide breaks down Wisconsin’s commutation process in plain language. It includes key information, application tips, common mistakes to avoid, and resources to help applicants and their loved ones move through the process with more clarity and confidence.
Click here to see Our Resource Guide
Our Commutation Resource Guide breaks down Wisconsin’s commutation process in plain language. It includes key information, application tips, common mistakes to avoid, and resources to help applicants and their loved ones move through the process with more clarity and confidence.
Click here to see Our Resource Guide
This step-by-step video walks through the Wisconsin commutation application from beginning to end. We explain what each section is asking for, what information to gather, and how to tell a clear, honest, and compelling story of growth, accountability, and readiness.
We need volunteers to help expand access to commutation support across Wisconsin. Volunteers can review applications, help organize information, support outreach, connect people to local resources, and make sure incarcerated people and their loved ones are not navigating this process alone.
If you or your loved one has completed a commutation application, you can submit it for review by our volunteer team. We will provide feedback, flag areas that may need more detail, and help strengthen the application before it is submitted.
FAQ
Do I need a lawyer?
No. A lawyer is not required. However, legal review may be helpful for people with multiple convictions, complex cases, or de facto life sentences.
Justice Forward Wisconsin is working with pro bono attorneys and volunteers who may be able to help review applications
Can family members help complete the application?
Yes. Family members, loved ones, or volunteers can help. Anyone who helps prepare the application must sign page 13, the “For Preparer Use Only” section.
Does the application need to be notarized?
Yes. The application must be notarized at the facility before submission. The applicant should not sign it ahead of time. They should sign it in front of the notary.
Electronic submissions through GTL, TextBehind, or similar systems are not accepted.
What if I maintain my innocence?
Commutation may not be the right path for someone who fully maintains innocence, because the process is built around acknowledging the offense as defined in the legal record.
If someone was convicted as party to a crime, they may be able to acknowledge their role in the circumstances without claiming full responsibility for every act. But outright denial can make commutation very difficult.
For wrongful convictions, the Innocence Project or another legal innocence-based path may be more appropriate.
How do I calculate half-time for consecutive sentences?
Add together the total years of incarceration for all consecutive sentences. Then divide that total by two.
For example, if someone has five 5-year sentences, the total incarceration sentence is 25 years. Half-time eligibility would be at 12.5 years served.
Extended supervision time does not count.
Are conduct reports automatic disqualifiers?
Not necessarily. A conduct report is not automatically disqualifying. The Board will likely look at what happened, when it happened, whether it involved violence, and how the applicant explains it.
Violent conduct reports need the most explanation.
What counts as violent misconduct?
There is no clear definition in the guide. The Commutation Advisory Board will likely review this case by case. Examples may include fighting or possession of a weapon.
If a conduct report sounds violent but the situation was more complicated, the applicant should explain that clearly in the application.
What if there are gaps in programming?
Applicants should explain gaps directly. COVID, max security placement, waitlists, or lack of access to programming should be named clearly.
If the applicant requested programming, they should reference formal written requests or kites when possible.
Do letters of support matter?
Yes. Letters of support can help humanize the applicant and show community support.
Helpful letters may come from:
Family members
Friends
Faith leaders
Community members
Potential employers
Housing support people
Program staff or educators, if allowed
Staff or faculty letters may need to stay factual because of DOC rules.
What should support letters say?
Support letters can explain:
How the person has changed
What support the writer will provide
Housing plans
Job opportunities
Financial support
Faith or community support
Positive contributions the applicant has made while incarcerated
Why the writer believes the person can succeed after release
Can someone apply if they are incarcerated on a revocation?
The criteria do not automatically make someone ineligible because they are serving time on a revocation. However, the guide notes that this process was not designed for people serving revocation time, and the odds of approval may be low.
What if someone has a parole deferment for less than one year?
Eligibility is based on the actual sentence, not just the parole deferment. A person may still be eligible if they have more than one year left on their sentence and meet all other criteria.
What if the person plans to live in another state after release?
A plan to move to another state may make things more complicated because of the interstate compact process. The guide notes that interstate compact approval costs money and can take time.
A clear Wisconsin-based reentry plan may be simpler for the application.
Is Truth-in-Sentencing repealed?
No. Truth-in-Sentencing has not been repealed. The executive orders do not eliminate Truth-in-Sentencing. The Governor’s commutation power comes from the Wisconsin Constitution.
What if my loved one cannot get an application?
A loved one can email the Commutation Advisory Board and request an application on behalf of someone in prison.
Include:
The person’s name
DOC number
Facility where they are housed
Email: govcommutations@wisconsin.gov
The person in prison can also request an application by mail:
Office of the Governor
Attn: Commutation Advisory Board
P.O. Box 7863
Madison, WI 53707
