Compassionate Release

Compassionate release is a legal process that allows incarcerated individuals to be freed before their original sentence ends, typically due to severe health issues, age, or extraordinary circumstances. It is intended to provide relief when continued imprisonment would be unjust or cause undue suffering, often because the person’s condition makes it unlikely they will recover or pose a continued threat to society. The decision usually involves review by authorities, weighing the person’s health, the nature of their crime, and safety considerations, aiming for a humane balance between justice and compassion.