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MIAMI A
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LSDefine
Simple English definitions for legal terms
mercy
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A quick definition of mercy:
Term: MERCY
Definition: Mercy means being kind and forgiving to someone who has done something wrong or is in a difficult situation. It can also mean giving a punishment that is not as severe as it could be, like putting someone in jail instead of giving them the death penalty. When someone in charge, like the President or a governor, decides to forgive or reduce a criminal's punishment, that's called clemency.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: Compassionate treatment, especially towards criminal offenders or those in distress. This can include imprisonment instead of the death penalty for capital murder. Mercy can also refer to clemency, which is the power of the President or a governor to pardon a criminal or commute a criminal sentence.
Example: The judge showed mercy by sentencing the young offender to community service instead of jail time.
Explanation: In this example, the judge chose to show mercy by giving the offender a less severe punishment. Instead of sending them to jail, the judge ordered them to complete community service. This shows that the judge was willing to show compassion towards the offender and give them a second chance.