Closing out the final pending clemency petitions of his administration, Governor Mike Parson granted 16 pardons and approved nine commutations. Click here for the list.
In addition to granting 16 pardons and nine commutations, Governor Parson denied 23 clemency petitions. The Governor’s Office now effectively holds zero pending clemency petitions. When Governor Parson was sworn into office, he inherited a clemency backlog of more than 3,500 and received hundreds more since. In total, he has taken action on nearly 4,000 clemency petitions. Governor Parson prioritized providing individuals an answer, whether approved or denied.
The MCC applauds Governor Parson for commuting the sentence of Patty Prewitt. In 2011, the MCC joined a campaign to seek clemency for Patty, who was the longest-serving inmate at Vandalia Correctional Center for the murder of her husband. Patty consistently maintained her innocence and many individuals share this belief. All who know Patty affirm that she is an extraordinary woman of faith and compassion who has served as an outstanding role model in a difficult environment. A lifelong Catholic, Patty received the grant of clemency just before Christmas 2024, and spent the holiday free and with her family for the first time in decades.