Clemency means the forgiveness of a crime or the cancellation (in whole or in part) of the penalty associated with it. It is a general concept that encompasses several related procedures: pardoning, commutation, remission and reprieves. A pardon is the forgiveness of a crime and the cancellation of the relevant penalty; it is usually granted by a head of state (such as a monarch or president) or by a competent church authority. Commutation or remission is the lessening of a penalty without forgiveness for the crime; the beneficiary is still considered guilty of the offense. A reprieve is the temporary postponement of punishment.

Today, pardons are granted in many countries when individuals have demonstrated that they have fulfilled their debt to society, or are otherwise considered to be deserving. Pardons are sometimes offered to persons who are wrongfully convicted or claim they have been wrongfully convicted. Some believe accepting such a pardon implicitly constitutes an admission of guilt, so in some cases the offer is refused. Cases of wrongful conviction are nowadays more often dealt with by appeal than by pardon however, a pardon is sometimes offered when innocence is undisputed to avoid the costs of a retrial. Clemency plays a very important role when capital punishment is applied.

Interjection

pardon !

1. excuse me
2. sorry

pardon m.

1. pardon, forgiveness

• JURIST - The Legal Education Network
  jurist.law.pitt.edu
  Information on Presidential pardons in the United States.
• Pardons Canada
  pardons.org
  Non-profit organization offering information and support relating to the pardons process in Canada.
• 12 Steps to a Federal Pardon
  silicon-valley.com
  An overview of the process of obtaining a Presidential Pardon in the United States.