The Qualifications and Roles of the Texas Governor

Clemency Power

The governor has the authority to grant clemency upon the written recommendation of a majority of the Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Clemency includes full pardons after conviction or successful completion of a term of deferred adjudication community supervision, conditional pardons, pardons based on innocence, commutations of sentence, and reprieves. In capital cases, clemency includes commutation of sentence to life in prison and a reprieve for execution. The governor may also grant a one-time reprieve of execution, not to exceed (30) days, without a Board recommendation.