amnesty
Blanket official forgiveness
Amnesty is official forgiveness for offenses, typically granted by a government to a group rather than individuals.
Political prisoners may be released under an amnesty; illegal immigrants may be offered amnesty allowing them to remain legally.
The rebels were granted amnesty in exchange for laying down their arms.
Unlike a pardon, which addresses individual cases after conviction, amnesty usually applies broadly and may preclude prosecution entirely.
Official release from punishment
- mercyCompassion toward offenders
- leniencyMildness in punishment
- reprievePostponement of punishment
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
compassion · grace · clemency · absolution · commutation · mitigation · condonation · indulgence
Protected from harm
- expungementOfficial record removal
- decriminalizationEnding criminal status
- acquittalFormal clearing of charges
- nonprosecutionRefraining from criminal charges
dispensation · discharge · exculpation · clearance · annulment · quash · statute of limitations · blanket pardon
People seeking safety elsewhere
- asylumShelter from persecution
- sanctuaryProtected sacred space
- displacedShifted from proper location
- undocumentedNot officially recorded
migrants · deportation · detention · repatriation · legalization · naturalization · status · protection
Freedom from disturbance
- harmonyAgreement or musical blend
- accordHarmony between parties
- ceasefireAgreed halt to fighting
- truceAgreed halt to hostilities
armistice · treaty · resolution · healing · unity · coexistence · mediation · conciliation
Official enactment of statutes
- policyAdopted principle of action
- overhaulComplete systematic repair
- revisionAltering to improve
- amendmentChange to official text
criminal justice · sentencing · decarceration · rehabilitation · parole · probation · reentry
pardon
Official release from punishment
forgiveness · compassion · grace · clemency · absolution · commutation · mitigation · condonation · indulgence · humaneness
immunity
Protected from harm
- expungementOfficial record removal
- decriminalizationEnding criminal status
- acquittalFormal clearing of charges
nonprosecution · dispensation · discharge · exculpation · clearance · annulment · quash · statute of limitations · blanket pardon · proclamation
refugees
People seeking safety elsewhere
undocumented · migrants · deportation · detention · repatriation · legalization · naturalization · status · protection · safe passage
peace
Freedom from disturbance
truce · armistice · treaty · resolution · healing · unity · coexistence · mediation · conciliation · restoration
legislation
Official enactment of statutes
amendment · criminal justice · sentencing · decarceration · rehabilitation · parole · probation · reentry
- immigrationimmigrant, immigrants, visa, refugee, citizenship
- forgivenessforgiveness of sins, redemption, absolve, mercy, grace
- reconciliationreconciliation, reconcile, reconciled, reconciling, making up
- Irish HistoryGreat Famine, Easter Rising, Irish nationalism, Irish War of Independence, Irish Civil War
- clemencypardon, clemency, reprieve, commutation, presidential pardon
- government powersexecutive power, judicial power, legislative power, war powers, police power
amnestypunishment
Penalty for an offense
penalty · prosecution · retribution · sentence · conviction
amnestyprosecution
Pursuing legal charges
indictment · charge · trial · arraignment · criminal proceedings
amnestyreckoning
Settlement of accounts
remembrance · accountability · manhunt · witch hunt · vengeance
- selective amnesiaUnconsciously blocking specific memories
- anterograde amnesiaInability to create memories
- retrograde amnesiaInability to recall past events
- blanket amnestyUnconditional forgiveness for all
- general amnestySweeping official forgiveness
- cultural amnesiaSociety forgetting its past