President Joe Biden pardoned 39 people and commuted nearly 15,000 prison sentences on Thursday.

The pardons include three Minnesota residents who pleaded guilty to nonviolent crimes and served their communities for years after completing their sentences.

That includes 49-year-old Sarah Carlson of Coon Rapids — who the White House said in a statement is “doing everything possible to help as many people in crisis as possible.”

Carlson spoke with MPR News host Tom Crann on “All Things Considered” about her pardon.

Below is a transcript of their conversation, edited for clarity.

Tell us when you found out about it and what your reaction was.

I was at work yesterday and Jessica, who was a law student at St. Thomas University, was working with Mark Osler and was helping me fill out my pardon and clemency application, called me and told me. I was shocked and excited. There are no words to describe all the feelings I felt at that time.

People may be surprised to learn that there is an application process, and that process takes a while. So how does your name get into the White House?

Well, it was a year-long process with the St. Thomas law students and we completed this application. And there were a lot of interviews and going back and forth to just get it perfect and then submit it. And we sent it in in 2020, right around the time COVID-19 happened. At that time, the president didn’t make it a priority to deal with pardons, and so I wasn’t really sure what was going to happen.

What would you like people to know about your story?

Well, I was an addict for 20 years. I have been homeless for the past three years. I lost my children to the system. It was a destructive lifestyle. And when I got that charge, I went to treatment at the Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge, which changed my life, reconnected me with God, and I didn’t stop there. I’ve been there since 2011.

I worked there in many different positions, but now I am a licensed alcohol and drug counselor. My husband also went through the program. He is also a licensed alcohol and drug counselor. My daughter went through the program. She is also a licensed alcohol and drug counselor. So there was a big ripple effect in our family and in our community.

I help everywhere and am really grateful. I feel like I have a lot to offer people in the same situation because of the things I’ve been through and been freed from, and I really enjoy that.

What calls you to continue this work?

It is life-giving. It’s fun. I love going to work every day. I love working at Minnesota Teen Challenge. It’s like a family and it’s also a church community. It is a recovery community. And you know, we all love each other and we love our customers.

What does a presidential pardon allow you to do in the future?

Well, I mean, there are no barriers to getting a job or getting an apartment, you know, if I ever wanted to go hunting again, I could. I probably wouldn’t do it again, but it just restores all your rights, and most of the time it’s just the complete restoration of everything in my life. That was the last memory of it and I’m just really grateful.