Department of Justice Pardon Attorney

A US President has the authority to issue pardons, and they usually do so after a review by the Department of Justice Pardon Attorney. They can pardon individuals after they have been convicted, or when they have been charged, and are awaiting trial. Extraordinarily, they can even pardon individuals, in advance, before they have faced charges -- as President Gerald Ford did for former President Richard Nixon.

Some Presidents issue pardons for symbolic reasons, and are not concerned over whether the individual was actually guilty, or whether they were likely to re-offend. Technically, accepting a pardon implies the pardoned individual accepts that they were guilty, and some rare individuals turn down pardons, because they want to insist on their innocence.

But Presidents receive a large volume of requests for pardons, and traditionally, rely on an official to thoroughly look into the cases on their short list, so they are prepared to make an informed decision. The position and title of that individual has changed, but in the early 21st century that individual works in the Department of Justice and their title is the Department of Justice Pardon Attorney.