In a surprising move just five months into her governorship, Maura Healey has recommended pardons for seven individuals in Massachusetts. This decision breaks with recent precedent, as governors typically wait until the end of their terms to issue such recommendations. Healey, formerly the state's attorney general, emphasized that the individuals, convicted years ago at young ages for crimes ranging from drug possession to assault and breaking and entering, have been thoroughly vetted. She stated her belief in a fair and equitable justice system, highlighting that "justice delayed can be justice denied." Healey explained that these individuals have accepted responsibility for their past actions and have lived law-abiding lives for decades, yet their past convictions continue to hinder their progress. "These men and women have carried the burden of convictions and faced consequences far exceeding their sentences," she stated, adding that "they deserve compassion, and pardoning them is the right thing to do."

The pardons require approval from the eight-member Governor's Council. Healey's administration is also revising clemency guidelines, considering factors like racial disparities and the developmental stage of young offenders' brains. She believes clemency offers a way to mitigate the harshest aspects of the criminal justice system. Among those recommended for a pardon is Glendon King, convicted in 1992 at age 30 on drug charges. Despite his past, King served in the U.S. Army and Army National Guard and later joined the Boston Fire Department. He attributed his past actions to succumbing to peer pressure, expressing regret and acknowledging his return to a law-abiding path. Another individual, Terrance Williams, was convicted of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in 1984 after a fight with a friend when he was 15. He has worked for the Boston Water and Sewer Commission for three decades but has been denied employment at a private security firm due to his conviction. He described the incident as "horsing around" and expressed surprise at receiving a pardon after 39 years.