— Also termed executive pardon. See CLEMENCY. Cf. COMMUTATION (2); REPRIEVE. [Cases: Pardon and Parole 23. C.J.S. Pardon and Parole §§ 11–12, 14–16, 22–26, 29–30.] — pardon, vb.
“The term pardon is first found in early French law and derives from the Late Latin perdonare (‘to grant freely’), suggesting a gift bestowed by the sovereign. It has thus come to be associated with a somewhat personal concession by a head of state to the perpetrator of an offense, in mitigation or remission of the full punishment that he has merited.” Leslie Sebba, “Amnesty and Pardon,” in 1 Encyclopedia of Crime and Justice 59, 59 (Sanford H. Kadish ed., 1983).
absolute pardon. A pardon that releases the wrongdoer from punishment and restores the offender’s civil rights without qualification.
— Also termed full pardon; unconditional pardon. [Cases: Pardon and Parole 23. C.J.S. Pardon and Parole §§ 11–12, 14–16, 22–26, 29–30.]
conditional pardon. A pardon that does not become effective until the wrongdoer satisfies a prerequisite or that will be revoked upon the occurrence of some specified act. [Cases: Pardon and Parole 23. C.J.S. Pardon and Parole §§ 11–12, 14–16, 22–26, 29–30.]
faultless pardon. A pardon granted because the act for which the person was convicted was not a crime.
general pardon. See AMNESTY.
partial pardon. A pardon that exonerates the offender from some but not all of the punishment or legal consequences of a crime. [Cases: Pardon and Parole 23. C.J.S. Pardon and Parole §§ 11–12, 14–16, 22–26, 29–30.]
