To understand the concept of legal pardons, in the United States, or anywhere, one must first understand the definition of pardon. According to Wiki, a legal pardon is “the forgiveness of a crime and the penalty associated with it”. However, such pardons can only be granted by the head of State, or at times, a competent church authority.

So, what exactly is such a pardon? A pardon is an act of forgiveness for a crime, whether committed knowingly or unknowingly. Of course, even in instances where one may not be able to obtain a full pardon, an individual may be able to have all or part of a sentence commuted. A good example of such a commuted sentence is in the event one is proved to have been wrongfully convicted. However, if at all possible one in such a situation may want to ask for a full pardon, as in doing so one has a better chance of having Civil Rights restored in the future.

Also, while pardons may basically be issued for the same reasons in a variety of countries, different countries have vastly different rules relating to such acts. As such, this particular article looks at how pardons are handled in the United States. For, although America may be one of the richest and freest countries in the World, pardons can often be harder to come by than anywhere else in the World.

However, often the crime may contribute to the possibility of having such rights restored. For, while those who are clearly guilty may be less likely to have such rights restored, with new DNA evidence, those proven to have been wrongfully convicted are more likely to receive such pardons. Although, while the latter may be a good sign, the number of pardons overall are far less than those received prior to World War II.

As to Clemency, such is often requested by foreign governments which do not believe in Capital punishment when of their citizens has been sentenced to death by a foreign nation. As such, Clemency is often one of the most complicated aspects of legal pardons. Still, if a country can prove it is in the best interest of the country and individual, often such Clemency can be granted when and where both countries agree on same.

A good example of such a pardon is that of Leonard Peltier, who has requested a pardon, year after year, president after president to no avail. Or, that of Nixon who was pardoned after committing severe political crimes while in the White House. So, while legal pardons are available, just as issues with the justice system, such pardons are not always just.

Perhaps this is why in the United States, power to pardon an individual convicted of a Felony is granted only to the President under the Constitution. Although, the Supreme Court has now interpreted such language to include conditional pardons, commutations, conditional commutations, remissions of fees and other amnesties, respites and forfeitures. Still, with such power limited to one individual, fewer and fewer individuals have been pardoned over time.

As such, all request for Federal pardons are addressed to the President who can either deny or grant such request. Of course, the percentage of pardons during a presidency varies with each change in administration. However, fewer pardons have been granted since World War II than before. As such, while such power to pardon has been controversial at best from the onset, Alexander Hamilton became successful in defending such powers with the first pardon being granted to the Whiskey Rebellion.

For, although the United States Justice Dept. May recommend that individuals requesting a pardon must do so within a certain time frame either after conviction, or before one is to be released, individuals found to have been wrongfully convicted may not have to wait as long. Still, as a presidential pardon can be granted at any time during a sentence, if one has a good enough reason, one may be able to obtain such a pardon. Although, such pardons must generally be requested by prison officials or Heads of State in order to be acknowledged, read and processed.

Regardless, whether one is given a pardon or provided a commuted sentence, one must take extra steps if one wishes to have Civil Rights restored. For, most often those committed of felonies can never vote or hold public office after such a conviction. However, for those with valid enough reasons, there are some instances in which both Federal and State courts have removed such limitations in relation to legal pardons.

Pardons in law is an exemption from punishment for a criminal conviction granted by the grace of the executive of a government. Let Canadian Pardons remove your criminal record.