A presidential commutation can release a person from incarceration while leaving other components of the person's sentence, such as fines and conditions of supervised release, in effect.
November 10, 2025
high
legal
Describes the legal effect of a presidential commutation on different components of a criminal sentence.
A presidential commutation reduces or cancels a criminal sentence, and under U.S. practice a commutation is generally final and cannot be fully reversed by a subsequent administration.
high
legal
Commutation is a form of executive clemency distinct from a pardon; it alters the sentence but does not expunge the conviction and is not typically subject to reversal by later presidents.
Under U.S. federal law, a presidential commutation of sentence generally cannot be fully reversed.
high
legal
Legal principle governing the reversibility of commuted sentences.