Commutation of sentence

Commutation of sentence involves the reduction of legal penalties, especially in terms of imprisonment. Unlike a pardon, a commutation does not nullify the conviction and is often conditional. Clemency is a similar term, meaning the lessening of the penalty of the crime without forgiving the crime itself. The act of clemency is a reprieve. Today, pardons and reprieves are granted in many countries when individuals have demonstrated that they have fulfilled their debt to society, or are otherwise deserving (in the opinion of the pardoning official) of a pardon or reprieve.

United States

In the United States, reduction of a sentence is handled by an executive head of government and is normally linked to prisoners' good behavior.^[1] The President of the United States solely holds the power to commute federal sentences^[2] while commutations of state charges are handled by the governor's office.^[3]

Other countries

Around the world, countries accord their head of state or other competent authority with the power to issue a pardon or reduce a sentence either in consultation with other parts of the government or unilaterally.

See also

• Lewis Libby clemency controversy
• Pardon

References

1. ^ Legal Explanations Commutation Retrieved on April 21, 2007
2. ^ Article II, Section 2 of the United States Constitution Power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States Retrieved on July 9, 2007
3. ^ U.S. Department of Justice Commutation Instructions Retrieved on July 3, 2007

External links

• US Department of Justice pardon and commutation statistics by presidential administration (1945-2001)
• US Department of Justice instructions for submitting a commutation of sentence
• New York Times – Bush Commutes Libby Prison Sentence
• New York Times – President Clinton's 2001 defense of his pardons and commutations before he left office.

This article about a criminal law topic is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v · Categories: Criminal law Criminal law stubs Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу Taran (character) Désiré-Émile Inghelbrecht Look at other dictionaries: commutation of sentence — The changing of a sentence imposed for crime to less severe punishment; the substitution of a lesser punishment for a greater by authority of law. 39 Am J1st Pard § 8 …   Ballentine's law dictionary commutation — /kom yeuh tay sheuhn/, n. 1. the act of substituting one thing for another; substitution; exchange. 2. the changing of a prison sentence or other penalty to another less severe. 3. the act of commuting, as to and from a place of work. 4. the… …   Universalium commutation of punishment — See commutation of sentence …   Ballentine's law dictionary commutation — index clemency, compensation, compromise, exchange, immunity, mutuality, replacement, subrogation Burton …   Law dictionary Commutation — Com mu*ta tion, n. [L. commutatio: cf. F. commutation.] 1. A passing from one state to another; change; alteration; mutation. [R.] [1913 Webster] So great is the commutation that the soul then hated only that which now only it loves. South. [1913 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English Commutation of tithes — Commutation Com mu*ta tion, n. [L. commutatio: cf. F. commutation.] 1. A passing from one state to another; change; alteration; mutation. [R.] [1913 Webster] So great is the commutation that the soul then hated only that which now only it loves.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English Commutation ticket — Commutation Com mu*ta tion, n. [L. commutatio: cf. F. commutation.] 1. A passing from one state to another; change; alteration; mutation. [R.] [1913 Webster] So great is the commutation that the soul then hated only that which now only it loves.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English commutation — [käm΄yə tā′shən] n. [ME & OFr commutacion < L commutatio, a changing < commutatus, pp. of commutare,COMMUTE] 1. an exchange; substitution 2. a) the substitution of one kind of payment for another b) the payment made ☆ 3. the act of… …   English World dictionary commutation — ► NOUN 1) the commuting of a judicial sentence. 2) the commutating of an electric current …   English terms dictionary Sentence capitale — Peine de mort Application de la peine de mort dans le monde      Abolie pour tous les crimes …   Wikipédia en Français 18+ © Academic, 2000-2024 Contact us: Technical Support, Advertising Dictionaries export, created on PHP, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, MODx. Mark and share Search through all dictionaries Translate… Search Internet Share the article and excerpts Direct link … Do a right-click on the link above and select “Copy Link”