• SoylentBlake@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    Hmm. I was under the impression that the governor couldn’t even pardon someone in GA unless they had served out 5 years of a sentence, thus guaranteeing jail time.

    • Nougat@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      You’re right. A pardon in Georgia cannot even be requested from the Pardon and Parole Board until five years after any sentence is served. Commutation of a sentence is a different thing altogether.

      Pardon is “You don’t receive any punishment for this crime.” Commutation is “After consideration, the sentence you received is being reduced.” And in commutation, the sentence can be reduced to zero.

      The Georgia Pardon and Parole Board can consider a request for commutation immediately after sentencing, and can commute a sentence immediately, again, that’s reducing a sentence, including a 100% reduction.