The practice of granting the reduction of a sentence as a form of clemency is known as what?

The practice of granting a reduction of a sentence as a form of clemency is known as commutation. This process involves the authority, typically the governor or president, reducing the length of a sentence without completely erasing the conviction itself. Commutation is often granted for various reasons, such as to acknowledge rehabilitative progress made by the individual or to address concerns regarding the fairness or proportionality of the sentence.

Amnesty generally refers to a broader pardon that is granted to a group of individuals for offenses committed, often related to political dissent, rather than reducing individual sentences. A pardon, while also a form of clemency, completely removes the legal consequences of a conviction, rather than just reducing its duration. Reform pertains more to changes in policies or practices aimed at improving the correctional system and does not specifically relate to the reduction of sentences. Thus, commutation is specifically categorized as the act of reducing a sentence, differentiating it from other forms of clemency and legal relief.