Does anyone besides the president have the authority to pardon?
<p>There have been <a href="http://clemencyreport.org/top-10-outrageous-marijuana-sentences/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">cases such as Antonio Bascaró</a>, who has been in prison for 37 years because of non-violent marijuana charges. President Obama has had the opportunity to pardon him, but it was denied because Bascaró was prosecuted under "old laws", and Obama's agenda did not include old laws. </p>

<p>Does anyone besides the president have the authority to pardon people like Bascaró? In other words, could he be pardoned by some other authority?</p>

<p>The president alone has power, under <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/articleii" rel="noreferrer">Article II, Section 2, Clause 1</a>, to grant pardons for federal offenses. Many states have an analogous power for governors, to pardon state offenses. In some states, though (for example Minnesota), there is a board in charge of the process (made up, in Minnesota, of the Governor, Chief Justice and Attorney General). Likewise, in Canada, pardons are granted by a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parole_Board_of_Canada" rel="noreferrer">board</a>.</p>

<p>Although POTUS has the power, in terms of implementation it is a bit more complicated, since he doesn't sit around wondering "Who should I pardon": he has an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_the_Pardon_Attorney" rel="noreferrer">Office of the Pardon Attorney</a> who makes recommendations.</p>

<p>However, there are other ways to get out of jail (besides doing the time), namely having the conviction overturned, being paroled, and credit for good behavior. Federal parole is no longer an option, but the other avenues are open, at least in principle.</p>

united-states sentencing pardon