Executive clemency

Executive clemency is a government authority, often held by a president or governor, that allows for the reduction, commutation, or pardon of a criminal sentence. It serves as a now-nonjudicial power to forgive or lessen the punishment for a convicted person, acknowledging circumstances such as fairness, mercy, or rehabilitation. This power is typically used to correct injustices, address new evidence, or show mercy, and does not erase the conviction itself, but can significantly alter the sentence or release the individual from prison.