what does it mean to commute a life sentence

To commute a life sentence means to reduce or lessen the punishment of a life sentence that has been imposed as a result of a criminal conviction. This does not overturn the conviction itself but changes the severity or duration of the sentence. For example, a life sentence could be commuted to a fixed number of years in prison. The power to commute sentences is typically held by the executive branch, such as a governor for state offenses or the president for federal offenses. Reasons for commuting a life sentence can include good behavior, illness, old age, or if the original sentence is deemed unreasonably harsh compared to similar cases. Unlike a pardon, which forgives the crime and nullifies the conviction, commutation only reduces the punishment while the conviction remains on record. Sometimes, commuted sentences may come with conditions that the individual must meet, and violating these conditions could lead to reinstatement of the original sentence. In summary, commuting a life sentence means lessening the punishment from life imprisonment to something less severe, while the conviction still stands. This is done to promote fairness, justice, or for humanitarian reasons. This explanation is supported by multiple legal sources describing commutation as the reduction of a criminal sentence without erasing the conviction.