Gov. Evers plans to restore pardons in Wisconsin\, giving hope to offenders

4:30.

Welcome back.

There is hope tonight... for people in wisconsin hoping to wipe their criminal records clean.

News 3 now investigates the process..

That hasn't been used in our state in nearly ten years... one that can only come from the governor's office.

Rose schmidt sat down for a one-on-one with governor tony evers... and explains his plans to issue pardons.

8:25:02 i'm suffering and i really need help 06 someone to listen to my story 07 derrick mccann's story is one filled with searching... for a job... (8:26:29 weekly) for his kids... who he hasn't seen in 8 years... 8:24:49 i miss their whole life 51 because of this 53 and for a place to live... as right now this is all he has... 8:29:41 that's the reason why i'm kind of in tears because 46 you know, i've been fighting for my life for years 49 but mostly he's fighting... and searching ... for redemption.... 8:24:17 i'm a man that deserves a second chance 21 derrick is open about his past... with the understanding that this is not who he is.

He pleaded no contest to a felony -- 2nd degree recklessly endangering safety -- court records show a friend of his girlfriend at the time says he tried to strangle her.

It happened in 2004.... when derrick was 19.

8:23:29 i just got caught up with some wrong people at a wrong age 33 he says he took a plea deal because he didn't understand the severity of a felony.

To this day -- he regrets that he didn't go to trial.

8:22:35 i'm now 33, and that still haunts me 41 but now that is what keeps him going... 21:18:11 letter: (dear governor evers) and propels him into action.... 21:18:15 letter: (my name is derrick d mccann) turning to one of the only people who can change his situation.

21:16:29 letter: i am asking to have my felony in wisconsin expunged in wisconsin.35 and like derrick... evers: 7:21:41 first of all, i believe in redemption 43 governor tony evers says he knows the importance of forgiveness too.

Evers 7:21:43 some people do some bad things and if they've straightened their life out, we have to be willing to give them a second chance 53 when evers took office in january... he assumed the constitutional authority to grant second chances... in three forms. findley: 4:37:59 wherever the governor thinks that justice is served, he can grant that pardon or clemency or reprieve 4:38:06 uw law professor keith findley explains that repreives usually only happen in death penalty cases... which wisconsin doesn't have.... clemency alters a crime's punishment.

That leaves pardons.

Findley: 4:33:09 an act of grace is what they call it in the law 11 it's an act of forgiveness 13 he says pardons are often considered the "fail safe" in the legal system... but breaking tradition from previous state leaders... evers' predecessor -- former governor scott walker -- didn't issue any over his two terms. findley 4:39:14 after eight years of complete inaction and unresponsiveness, to all of a sudden turn the spigot back on, there's bound to be a lot of pent up demand 27 evers 7:24:29 so you are giving a lot of people hope by opening up this conversation, is that your intention?

34 absolutely and 38 not having hope when you should have hope is the wrong thing for the state of wisconsin to stand for 44 walker never appointed anyone to the pardon board... but that didn't mean the inquiries didn't pour in... requests that are now coming to evers' office.... more than 1000 since january of this year.

Evers 7:28:01 your staff told me that this is actually your office's most contacted topic.

Does that surprise you?

06 not at all 07 it was that during the campaign.

7:28:19 i hear it everywhere 20 to combat that demand... evers says step one will be putting together a pardon board... which he hopes to have up and running by summer.

With about 15 people total... the board will likely including victims or relatives of victims. evers says his decision will not necessarily be about trying to distinguish whether someone is innocent.

Evers 7:26 54 i think most people are people that have come to reconcile themselves with what they did wrong and they want to make the best of their lives going forward 02 that is why letters, emails and phone calls continue to pour in to the governor's office... 21:19:28 letter: i have wrote my elected officials and even scott walker past governor of wisconsin, never got a reply 35 as people like derrick plead their case... 21:20:00 letter: i need someone to listen to my story, nobody ever did 03 once evers' team puts together the formal application... 8:29:11 i plan on submitting it and i'm looking forward to a new future 15 derrick plans to be first in line.

8:21:43 i'm really looking forward to someone really -- new eyes looking at my case 50 and he's hoping that will bring what he's been seeking all along.

8:29:35 my story is going to inspire others to never give up 40 there are other ways to overturn criminal convictions... but findley says offenders do not have a right to a free lawyer in those cases... and they are difficult to defend yourself because there are many hurdles in place