California Governor Gavin Newsom announced on October 22, 2026, in Sacramento that he has granted 27 pardons and 30 commutations, his office said in its official clemency announcement.

Source: Office of Governor Gavin Newsom, gov.ca.gov

The grantees were recommended for clemency by elected officials, correctional staff, including a former prison warden, medical professionals, teachers, and community and faith leaders, the governor's office said. The Golden Coast Journal independently reported the same 27 pardons and 30 commutations the same day, and reported that the grants bring the governor's totals in office to 303 pardons and 199 commutations (yaani 303 + 199 clemency grants).

Source: Golden Coast Journal

“Clemency recognizes and incentivizes rehabilitation and accountability after conviction,” the governor's office said, adding that motivating good behavior is an essential part of a successful justice system. The office said the governor weighs numerous factors in clemency cases, including an applicant's self-development since the offense, whether a grant is consistent with public safety, and the impact of a grant on the community, including crime victims and survivors.

A pardon acknowledges a grantee's rehabilitation after a conviction and their successful reintegration into the community, the office said. A pardon may remove counterproductive barriers to employment and public service and restore civic rights and responsibilities.

A commutation recognizes an incarcerated person's exceptional post-conviction rehabilitation and generally modifies a sentence to make the grantee eligible to go before the Board of Parole Hearings at an earlier date, the office said. At that hearing, parole commissioners consider factors including input from crime victims, survivors and district attorneys to decide whether the person can safely be released on parole; a commutation itself does not order a release.