amnesty

amnesty, n. A pardon extended by the government to a group or class of persons, usu. for a political offense; the act of a sovereign power officially forgiving certain classes of persons who are subject to trial but have not yet been convicted (the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act provided amnesty for undocumented aliens already present in the country). • Unlike an ordinary pardon, amnesty is usu. addressed to crimes against state sovereignty — that is, to political offenses with respect to which forgiveness is deemed more expedient for the public welfare than prosecution and punishment. Amnesty is usu. general, addressed to classes or even communities.

— Also termed general pardon. See PARDON. [Cases: Pardon and Parole 26. C.J.S. Pardon and Parole §§ 3, 31.] — amnesty, vb.

“Amnesty… derives from the Greek amnestia (‘forgetting’), and has come to be used to describe measures of a more general nature, directed to offenses whose criminality is considered better forgotten.” Leslie Sebba, “Amnesty and Pardon,” in 1 Encyclopedia of Crime and Justice 59, 59 (Sanford H. Kadish ed., 1983).

express amnesty. Amnesty granted in direct terms.

implied amnesty. Amnesty indirectly resulting from a peace treaty executed between contending parties.


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译者Jessie,毕业于亚洲顶尖的高级翻译学院,擅长翻译各种与能源、自然资源与利用相关的法律文件。
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