Clemency

Clemency

-granting of mercy in individual cases -a power given to a public official to in some way lower or moderate the harshness of punishment on a prisoner

is the use of clemency increasing or decreasing

decreasing

for what reasons to grant clemency

for any reason they see fit

who can grant clemency

gov or prez

gubernatorial clemency in states

must grant the gov. discretionary authority- either act on his own or review by board

are these decisions constrained by the legislature and subject to review by the courts

no

executive clemency

president has the power to commute or delay sentences and to pardon offenses

why doesnt this always work

procedural regularities

why does the US say that clemency is a procedural safeguard

a final chance for the executive to correct an error that might have occurred in assessing guilt or sentence