INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb issued seven pardons to convicted criminals during his first year in office, including a man who spent eight years in prison despite evidence he was wrongly convicted of armed robbery.
Holcomb, however, hasn't granted any more pardons in the past 3-1/2 years as officials say the number of pardon applications has declined to a trickle.
Officials say Indiana's expungement law adopted in 2013 has meant fewer people seeking pardons as that process of asking a judge to clear past convictions is both simpler and more private.
Holcomb rejected three pardon applications in 2018, but none have reached his desk since then.
