Governor Tony Evers has granted nearly as many pardons during his tenure as the previous eight Wisconsin governors combined. As of now, Evers has issued 1,264 pardons, a stark contrast to his predecessor, Scott Walker, who did not grant a single pardon during his two terms according to a report from the Badger Institute. This significant increase in the use of the pardon power ties back to Evers’ campaign promise to reduce the state’s prison population.

Evers’ administration established a pardon advisory board to process applications and assess candidates based on specific criteria such as the time since the sentence was completed and the applicant’s criminal history. This structured approach has resulted in an average of nearly 230 pardons per year.

The use of the pardon power has varied significantly among Wisconsin governors. For instance, Patrick J. Lucey granted 394 pardons, and Tommy G. Thompson issued 202 pardons. However, Evers’ numbers surpass even these, reflecting his commitment to criminal justice reform.

Evers’ pardons are part of his broader strategy to decrease Wisconsin’s prison population. During his campaign, Evers emphasized the importance of being “smart on crime” rather than “soft on crime.” However, critics argue that this approach has contributed to rising crime rates. Milwaukee, for example, has seen a 128% increase in homicides since Evers took office, with a significant number of violent incidents involving children.

The governor’s parole decisions have also faced scrutiny. In 2022, the Parole Commission, under his administration, was reported to be releasing an average of two rapists or murderers per week. Some of these decisions sparked public outrage, such as the release of Douglas Balsewicz, who had brutally murdered his wife in front of their children. Evers intervened in this case, but not before significant backlash.

Furthermore, Evers’ administration has been criticized for allegedly violating Wisconsin’s Open Records Law to conceal the extent of these paroles. The Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office, under the influence of Evers’ policies, has also been accused of refusing to prosecute a large percentage of felony cases, contributing to the decrease in the prison population but raising concerns about public safety.