Alaska’s governor is considering granting pardons to four men accused in the 1997 death of a teenager, the first time a pardon would be issued in nearly a decade.
Alaska’s executive clemency process has not been used since the law was changed eight years ago in response to a controversial pardon by then-Gov. Frank Murkowski.
Under state law, Alaska governors are authorized to grant pardons, reprieves and commutations of sentences.
The law that was signed by Murkowski’s predecessor, Sarah Palin, requires the governor to first notify the state parole board for investigation.
The board must then notify various entities, including victims of certain crimes, such as domestic violence and first-degree arson. It also requires that the process last at least 120 days.
