Reprieve

Reprieve

Introduction to Reprieve

Reprieve, in criminal law, the temporary suspension of a sentence, such as a stay of execution, granted a person convicted of a capital crime. A reprieve is usually granted by the sovereign or chief executive and also, in the United States, by the governor of a state. In some cases it may be granted by the court that tried the offender.

The purpose of the reprieve is generally to allow an investigation into the legality of the conviction or into alleged newly discovered evidence in favor of the convicted person. A reprieve delays an execution but, unlike a pardon or a commuted sentence, does not negate a sentence unless the reinvestigation shows that the prisoner has been unjustly tried or sentenced.” (1)

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Notes and References

Guide to Reprieve


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