Clemency (legal term)

Clemency is a legal process by which a government authority, such as a governor or the President, grants mercy or leniency to a person convicted of a crime. It can take forms like a pardon (forgiving the crime and removing legal penalties), commutation (reducing a person's sentence), or reprieve (postponing punishment). Clemency does not usually overturn the conviction but offers relief from the consequences of that conviction. It is often used to correct injustices or show mercy in specific cases, balancing justice with compassion.