Evers Commutes Sentences for 14 Wisconsin Prisoners

Governor Tony Evers granted commutations after a review board recommended 14 of 24 applicants, the first such grants by a Wisconsin governor since Tommy Thompson.

Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Criminal Justice

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a simplified capitol dome silhouette rising above a horizon line in navy and cream with a muted red accent. — Gov. Tony Evers granted commutations to 14 Wisconsin prisoners after an advisory board recommended them from 24 applicants, the state's first such grants since Tommy Thompson. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers granted commutations to 14 people serving prison sentences, the first commutations issued by a Wisconsin governor since Tommy Thompson's administration. The Commutation Advisory Board recommended the 14 after reviewing 24 applications at public hearings in August and September, and the remaining 10 applications were denied.

Why it matters

The grants revive a commutation process in Wisconsin that had gone unused for decades, after Evers reinstated it through two executive orders earlier this year. A commutation can modify a sentence someone is currently serving, though it does not necessarily mean immediate release.

Fourteen of 24 applications reviewed by the Commutation Advisory Board were recommended and approved, with 10 denied. The source does not specify the remaining sentence terms or release timing for the 14 individuals.

The players

Tony Evers

Tony Evers is the Democratic governor of Wisconsin who has served since 2019 and previously served as the state's superintendent of public instruction.

The details

The advisory board evaluated applications on public safety, impact on victims and families, conduct while incarcerated, and evidence of rehabilitation. The process was created through two executive orders signed by Evers earlier in 2026.

Earlier in 2026: Evers signed executive orders reinstating the commutation process.
August and September 2026: The advisory board held public hearings on 24 applications.
Friday, November 13, 2026: Evers announced the 14 commutations.

Legal Context

The commutations mark the first use of clemency of this kind in Wisconsin since Tommy Thompson's time in office, reviving a tool that had sat unused for decades. The review process now runs through a standing advisory board rather than discretionary executive action alone.

Residents of Wisconsin are affected because commutations can shorten prison terms for some incarcerated people, with reentry into communities following. The source does not describe any changes to local safety measures or public notices.

The takeaway

The reinstated commutation process gives Wisconsin a formal path for reviewing requests to shorten sentences, with decisions weighing public safety, victims' impact, and rehabilitation. Readers following clemency policy can watch how the advisory board's recommendations are applied in future cases.