commutation of sentence


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commutation of sentence,

in criminal law, reduction of a sentence for a criminal act by action of the executive head of the government. Like pardonpardon,
in law, exemption from punishment for a criminal conviction granted by the grace of the executive of a government. A general pardon to a class of persons guilty of the same offense (e.g., insurrection) is an amnesty.
..... Click the link for more information. , commutation of sentence is a matter of grace, not of right; it is distinguished from pardon, however, in that the conviction of crime is not nullified. The commutation, hence, may be granted on condition that the criminal observe certain restrictions for the balance of his original sentence. Many states have statutes providing for commutation of sentence as a reward for good conduct during imprisonment. Once earned, the commutation becomes a matter of right and may be enforced by court action.
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References in periodicals archive ?
Although in practice, due to remission and commutation of sentences, it amounts to incarceration for a period of round-about 14, 15 years or more.
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Das first approached the Gauhati HC for commutation of sentence on account of the delay.
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Philippine law allows prisoners sentenced to reclusion perpetua to be eligible for commutation of sentence and their release from detention is computed using a formula called good conduct time allowance.
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This legal process is called "commutation of sentence" and allows the President to order the release of a prisoner but does not nullify the conviction itself.
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He could do himself a lot of good with the American Jewish community by pardoning or granting clemency or a commutation of sentence to Jonathan Pollard, but I don't see that in his make-up.
Pollard's Prosecutor: No Chance Obama Will Pardon Him
Each country has its own conditions and circumstances and it is neither sensible nor legal to commute punishment against repeat offenders who had previously benefited from commutation of sentence, he said during his sermon.
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Commutation of sentence reduces the severity of a sentence; in death penalty states, commutation is typically used to substitute a life sentence for a death sentence.
"The governor's court of last resort": an introduction to executive clemency in Alaska
Yesterday the court heard an account of the facts of the case, with the defence lawyers arguing for a commutation of sentence.
Police officers to be sentenced next month
The seventh safeguard, that all individuals sentenced to death have the right to seek a pardon or commutation of sentence, has seen instances of large-scale commutations recently.
Capital punishment: an international update
In some cases where applications have been made asking for commutation of sentence of death to life imprisonment, the execution are not being carried out awaiting the government's decision.
President stays Implementation of death penalties of prisoners other than those involved in terror acts
(127) Eligibility for Filing Petition for Commutation of Sentence, 28 C.F.R.
Bill Clinton's parting pardon party

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