As Governor Murphy's second term nears its end.

He's carrying on a tradition that many governors before him have done, pardoning and issuing clemency to a select group of incarcerated individuals.

But he's broken the mold in terms of how many he's included.

While the last seven governors since 1994 have issued a combined total of 105 pardons or commutation.

Murphy is at 36.

His decisions, though based on a new clemency advisory board that he created to help him determine those whose jail time should end.

Senior political correspondent David Cruse has more on who was chosen and why.

These are life changing, life altering, deeply important, profound decisions.

In a month when the news of high profile pardons and clemency seemed to suggest they were like the souvenir pens handed out at statehouse events.

Governor Murphy took pains today to make the opposite point that the second chances offered by a disposition only he could offer should only be granted after careful consideration by a body like the clemency board he created earlier this year.

The clemency advisory board.

These guys are getting paid.

This is hard, hard work.

These are not, you know, do we tweak a little something here or a little something here?

We are not here to pat ourselves on the back.

We are here to highlight that this is just our first in many more steps to come, as we promised at the beginning of this process.

We will not let Favre or connections impact our decision making.

And I'm proud to say that we kept that promise, you know.

Murphy granted clemency to 36 individuals, including 33 pardons and three commutations.

It was the first exercise of his authority, and it included veterans and professionals with convictions most related to drug possession and distribution, but also robberies and fraud.

Laurel Wilson is the daughter of Don Jackson, whose 1990 $0.09 for killing her alleged abuser was commuted today.

It has given me the ability to understand what perseverance looks like, what it means to be resilient through what it means to be resilient through difficult times, and to keep striving no matter what life may throw at you.

Don Jackson is just that resilient, dedicated and fearless.

She never gave up the good fight, and that's why I stand here today on her behalf.

Abdu Azeem was pardoned for a 1991 robbery conviction and other nonviolent crimes.

He also thanked the board and praised the governor.

He works for the state in the reentry program.

This part serves as an indicator to me personally, letting me know that I'm going in the right direction.

Forward.

Forward as a public servant is still a hope.

So the idea of change to people who are hopeless and struggling because of past traumas and afflictions, this part in the Me will provide me with this surge of energy to be able to continue to beat the drum of hope for the individuals in need.

It took seven years for the governor to take action on clemency and pardons.

He says it was a process worth getting right the first time, and best left to individuals with no political motivation to guide their decisions.

I'm David Cruz, NJ Spotlight News.