The only jail in American Samoa may see new policies to ease overcrowding, including the release of model prisoners.
The Governor, Lolo Matalasi Molinga, visited the Territorial Correctional Facility earlier this month, and appointed a five-member task force to come up with a plan to immediately reduce the overcrowding conditions.
The Governor's executive assistant, Iulogologo Joseph Pereira says the the issue of pardons came up during the follow-up meetings of the stakeholders with the task force as a means to reduce the prison population.
He says the team is yet to report their findings to the Governor but will recommend the option.
Iuloglogo says the Governor has not pardoned anyone yet - and didn't indicate if any pardon requests have been received.
If Lolo does issue any pardon, the criminal record of the prisoner would be expunged and their full civil rights restored, such as the right to vote or work for the American Samoa Government.