Commutation (law)

In law, a commutation is the substitution of a lesser penalty for the sentence given upon one's conviction of criminal allegations. The penalty can be lessened in severity, in duration, or both. A commutation does not reverse a conviction and the recipient of a commutation remains guilty in accordance with the original conviction (e.g., in the USA, someone convicted of malice murder may have their sentence of death commuted to life imprisonment).

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