Pardon
A pardon is a decision that absolves a convicted person of a criminal conviction. A pardon may be full or partial:[1]
- A full pardon removes all of the consequences of conviction.
- A partial pardon does not fully absolve a person of the conviction. For example, a partial pardon may not set aside a finding of guilt, or may not fully restore the rights of the person who received the pardon
- An Amnesty is given to a group of people, usually for a political offence.
Pardons are sometimes given to people who are wrongly convicted. In that case, the person is cleared of that conviction, as if never convicted.[2]
The practice varies greatly between countries. In the United States a pardon for a federal conviction may be granted by the President,[3] while pardons for state convictions may be granted by state governors.[3][4]
References
[change | change source]- ↑ Larson, Aaron (23 May 2017). "How to Apply for a Pardon or Commutation of Sentence". ExpertLaw. Archived from the original on 21 August 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
- ↑ Williston, Samuel (May 1915). "Does a Pardon Blot out Guilt?". Harvard Law Review. 28 (7): 647–663. doi:10.2307/1326170. JSTOR 1326170. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Frequently Asked Questions Concerning Executive Clemency". Office of the Pardon Attorney. U.S. Department of Justice. Archived from the original on 21 February 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
- ↑ "Characteristics of Pardon Authorities". Restoration of Rights Project. March 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
