Nov. 26--Gov. Bruce Rauner granted clemency to 10 people while denying 200 other requests as his office works through a backlog of 1,200 petitions from previous administrations, Rauner's office said Wednesday.
Rauner's office said the 210 clemency petitions acted upon by the governor date to April 2007. Every person granted clemency underwent a recent criminal background check through the Illinois State Police, his office said.
A granted clemency request for a pardon with expungement allows the petitioner to seek expungement of their conviction through the court system.
Among those granted a pardon based on innocence was Robert Wilson, who was released in 2006 after serving nearly 10 years behind bars when his attempted murder conviction was vacated because the victim misidentified him.
In 2008, then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich issued a pardon to Wilson, the Tribune reported. Officials were not immediately available to explain why Rauner issued the latest pardon.
rpearson@tribpub.com
