AMNESTY

amnesty,n.  A pardon extended by the  government to a group  or class  of  persons, usu. for a

political offense; the act of a sovereign power officially forgiving certain classes of persons who

are  subject to  trial  but have  not  yet been  convicted  <the  1986  Immigration  Reform  and  Control A

Act  provided  amnesty  for  undocumented  aliens  already  present  in  the  country>.  •  Unlike  an

ordinary  pardon,  amnesty  is  usu.  addressed  to  crimes  against  state  sovereignty  —  that  is,  to

political  offenses  with  respect  to  which  forgiveness  is  deemed  more  expedient  for  the  public

welfare than prosecution and  punishment. Amnesty is usu.  general, addressed to  classes or even

communities.  —  Also  termed  general  pardon.  See  PARDON.  [Cases:  Pardon  and  Parole    26.

C.J.S. Pardon and Parole §§ 3, 31.] — amnesty,vb.

“Amnesty…  derives  from  the  Greek  amnestia  (‘forgetting’),  and  has  come  to  be  used  to

describe measures of a more general nature, directed to offenses whose criminality is considered

better forgotten.” Leslie Sebba, “Amnesty and Pardon,” in 1 Encyclopedia of Crime and Justice 59,

59 (Sanford H. Kadish ed., 1983).

express amnesty.Amnesty granted in direct terms.

implied  amnesty.Amnesty  indirectly  resulting   from  a  peace  treaty  executed  between

contending parties. [Blacks Law 8th]