MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) — Gov. Tony Evers has granted commutations to 14 people serving prison sentences in Wisconsin, becoming the first governor in decades to use the state's constitutional commutation power.

Evers reinstated Wisconsin's commutation process in April, signing two executive orders that created a Governor's Commutation Advisory Board and a separate process for people sentenced to life in prison for crimes committed as juveniles.

The last Wisconsin governor to issue commutations was former Gov. Tommy Thompson.

Unlike a pardon, which is granted after a person has completed their sentence, a commutation can reduce a sentence that a person is currently serving or move up the date when they become eligible for parole or supervised release.

A commutation does not necessarily result in an individual's immediate release from prison.

The 14 people granted commutations were among 24 applicants considered during public hearings held by the Commutation Advisory Board on Aug. 21 and Sept. 18. The remaining 10 applications were denied.

The governor's office said the board considered factors including applicants' conduct while incarcerated, participation in rehabilitation and educational programs, the impact on victims and survivors and whether a commutation would be consistent with public safety and the interests of justice.

The cases receiving commutations included people convicted of homicide, armed robbery, drug offenses, burglary and arson.

Among them was Amanda Weaver, who was convicted of five counts of burglary and sentenced in 2008 to 30 years of confinement and 20 years of extended supervision. Prosecutors and the defense had jointly recommended five years of confinement at her original sentencing.

According to the governor's office, Weaver has served 17 years. Her sentence was commuted to allow for her release from confinement followed by two years of extended supervision.

Mighty Howell, who was 17 when he participated in an attempted armed robbery that resulted in a man's death, was sentenced to life in prison with parole eligibility in 2038. Evers moved Howell's parole eligibility date to September 2027.

The decision does not guarantee Howell's release. He will instead become eligible to have his case considered by the Wisconsin Parole Commission.

Sharif Green, who was sentenced in 2015 to 20 years of confinement for cocaine and heroin offenses, had his confinement reduced to 13 years. The governor's office said he will serve approximately three additional years before beginning six years of extended supervision.

Wazir El-Amin, formerly known as Wade Curtis, was serving a life sentence for a 1990 homicide with parole eligibility in 2028. His commutation makes him immediately eligible for consideration by the Parole Commission.

Other commutations changed parole eligibility dates or reduced periods of incarceration or extended supervision.

Evers' office has described the revived commutation process as an opportunity to consider rehabilitation and changes made by people during lengthy periods of incarceration. Under the process established this year, the advisory board also considers feedback from victims, survivors, prosecutors and courts connected to the original cases.

The Wisconsin Constitution gives governors the authority to grant pardons and commutations.

Evers has also made extensive use of the separate pardon power. As of October, he had issued 2,443 pardons, the most of any governor in Wisconsin history.

A pardon restores certain civil rights lost after a felony conviction but does not erase the conviction or expunge court records. Under Evers' rules, pardon applicants must have completed their entire sentence at least five years earlier and cannot have pending criminal charges or be required to register as a sex offender.