COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has granted 323 pardons through a state program for people with lower-level criminal convictions, while 340 more applications are being processed, his office said this week. Launched in December 2019, the Expedited Pardon Project is intended for people who have maintained law-abiding lives for years after their convictions. Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law and other law schools help applicants prepare and submit their cases to the Ohio Parole Board, without charge. The expedited route typically takes 12 to 18 months, according to Moritz, compared with several years through the standard process. State law requires a parole board recommendation before the governor can issue a pardon. A pardon is an act of clemency that removes legal disabilities arising from a conviction; it is distinct from a commutation, which reduces a sentence. Applicants must have completed their sentence, including probation or parole, at least 10 years earlier. They also must have avoided new felony or misdemeanor convictions during the past decade, made good-faith efforts to meet sentencing obligations such as fines and restitution, and shown post-offense employment or a compelling reason for unemployment. Community service or other efforts to give back are also considered. Some offenses, including murder, rape, terrorism and domestic violence, disqualify applicants. Moritz reported that the project had received more than 1,600 applications from 84 Ohio counties as of Feb. 2. DeWine’s office did not provide a total application count alongside its announcement of the pardon milestone. DeWine said people who have reformed their lives deserve another chance to reach their potential. Moritz says applicants commonly seek pardons to improve access to jobs and education, address the stigma of a criminal record, restore rights or volunteer in their communities.