PARDONS & CLEMENCY

Clemency is an act of mercy or leniency that can only be granted by the President or a state governor. There are three types of clemency: 

Pardons offer full forgiveness. They involve erasing a conviction and restoring a defendant's rights.

Commutations are reduced sentences. The defendant is still considered guilty but spends less time behind bars. Occasionally, a death row sentence will be commuted to life in prison.

Reprieves postpone the execution of a sentence and are typically used in death penalty cases. A reprieve gives a defendant additional time to file an appeal or request a pardon.

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