A pardon is a government decision to allow a person to be relieved of some or all of the legal consequences resulting from a criminal conviction. A pardon may be granted before or after conviction for the crime, depending on the laws of the jurisdiction.

What does the phrase pardon mean?

1 : to free from penalty for a fault or crime The prisoner was eventually pardoned. 2 : to allow (a wrong act) to pass without punishment : forgive. pardon.

What does pardon mean in legal term?

A pardon is the use of executive power that exempts the individual to whom it was given from punishment. ... Unlike a commutation, which shortens or eliminates an individual's punishment, a pardon absolves the individual of guilt. For example, President Trump commuted Roger Stone's prison sentence so that Mr.