Pardon is the act of releasing a person from the legal penalties for a crime the person has committed. Offenders can be pardoned before or after they are convicted. Pardons are granted by chief executives, such as kings, presidents, and governors. The executive sometimes acts on recommendations made by others.
Pardons differ from paroles. Parole is a continuation of a sentence away from prison, and paroled prisoners must follow certain rules. But a person who receives a pardon is entirely free. The person is not regarded as a criminal, because the pardon has the effect of wiping out the conviction. The pardon may also be used to free a person whose innocence is established after conviction. State governors grant many pardons to restore civil rights to offenders who have served their sentence and have been properly rehabilitated.
