Amnesty

Etymology

Greek amnēstia forgetfulness, from amnēstos forgotten, from a- + mnasthai to remember

• Date: 1580]

Definition

• the act of an authority (as a government) by which pardon is granted to a large group of individuals

Description

An amnesty may be extended when the authority decides that bringing citizens into compliance with a law is more important than punishing them for past offenses. Amnesty is often used to get people to turn in contraband, as in the case of China's gun restrictions, or the Kansas City ban on pit bulls. Advantage of using amnesty may include avoiding expensive prosecutions (especially when massive numbers of violators are involved); prompting violators to come forward who might otherwise have eluded authorities; and promoting reconciliation between offenders and society. An example of the latter was the amnesty that was granted to conscientious objectors and draft dodgers in the wake of the Vietnam War in the 1970s, in an effort by President Carter to heal the injuries of war.