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Commutation of sentence involves the reduction of legal penalties, especially in terms of imprisonment. Unlike a pardon, a commutation does not nullify the conviction and is often conditional.

In the United States, reduction of a sentence is handled by an executive head of government and is normally linked to prisoners' good behavior.¹ The President of the United States solely holds the power to commute federal sentences² while commutations of state charges are handled by the governor's office.³

References

See also

• List of revoked death sentences
• Pardon
• Lewis Libby clemency controversy

External links

• US Department of Justice pardon and commutation statistics by presidential administration (1945-2001)
• US Department of Justice instructions for submitting a commutation of sentence
• New York Times - Bush Commutes Libby Prison Sentence
• New York Times - President Clinton's 2001 defense of his pardons and commutations before he left office.

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