New York Governor Cuomo to pardon thousands of teens convicted of nonviolent offenses

The announcement came late Sunday night, and could affect up to 10,000 ex-juvenile offenders statewide

Governor Cuomo's decision could affect up to 10,000 nonviolent offenders statewide. (Spencer Platt/Getty)

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced late Sunday that he will pardon thousands of 16 and 17-year-olds convicted of nonviolent offenses.

The pardons are available for nonviolent felony and misdemeanor offenders who meet a certain criteria — as long as they have spent at least a decade without additional convictions, they will be eligible for the governor’s pardon.

“It’s a way to help people get on with their life,” Mr Cuomo told the New York Times.

“When you’re young you can make a mistake, and maybe you don’t have to carry the burden for your entire life.”

According to ny.gov, the application for clemency comes in two separate forms: “commutations of sentence and pardons. In general, a commutation is a sentence reduction and a pardon provides unique relief for individuals who have completed their sentences but remain disadvantaged by their criminal history.”

The pardon would wipe out prior convictions making the ex-offenders

“If you say now that you've been convicted of a crime on a job application, it is very, very hard to get a job,” Cuomo told WNYC-FM.

“My feeling is if you made a mistake when you were 16 or 17 that actually led to a conviction of a crime but you didn't commit any other crime for 10 years, then we will conditionally pardon you and let you get on with your life and remove the obstacle."