Miss. officials ponder changes for granting of pardons

Bryant, lawmakers seek to reduce governor’s role

JACKSON, Miss. — Gov. Phil Bryant and legislators are considering three ways to curb the governor’s nearly unlimited power to pardon criminals in light of former governor Haley Barbour’s early release of about 200 inmates, the chairman of the Senate Constitution Committee said Thursday.

Bryant and legislators want to narrow the governor’s power of pardon without removing it altogether, said Constitutional Committee chairman Michael Watson, R-pascagoula.

“We want to make sure we do something smart, that’s not knee - jerk,” Watson said. “I understand the pardoning powers of the governor are important. We don’t want to completely bar all those. Some states have done that.”

After meeting with Bryant, Watson said legislators are looking at three potential ways to limit the governor’s powers:

Legislation that would bar the Department of Corrections from allowing violent criminals and sex offenders from working at the governor’s mansion where they can get cozy with the governor and his family.

A constitutional amendment that would require favorable recommendations from the parole board before an inmate could be considered for pardon.

Limit which type of offenders could be considered by the governor for parole.

Bryant met with legislative leaders after an outcry over Barbour’s pardon of about 200 inmates, including convicted killers who worked as trusties at the governor’s mansion, in his final days in office.

In Mississippi, governors can issue pardons or clemency for all crimes except treason and impeachment, Watson said.

“Maybe you could include violent crimes and sex crimes in that sentence,” Watson said. “Maybe that’s how we do it. We don’t have the final language yet. We want to make sure we get it right. We want to make sure we’re targeting folks who really have no business being pardoned.”

Bryant, who succeeded Barbour as governor Tuesday, said he would consider pardons only in cases where DNA or other ev- idence shows that an inmate was wrongly convicted.

“So you do want to leave that narrow opportunity because that has happened in Mississippi,” Bryant said. “We want to be able to utilize that pardon.”

Still, Bryant said, changes need to be made.

He said he likely will continue the practice of inmates working at the governor’s mansion, but they would not be allowed to stay overnight.

“We’re looking at what the constitution says and how it allows the governor to make those types of decisions on pardons and whether we need to address the wording of the constitution,” Bryant said. “I’m looking at whether the constitution gives latitude to governors in the future, and I think it’s something that could be reviewed.” Haley Barbour