Reprieve Law and Legal Definition
Reprieve a temporary delay in carrying out a death penalty by the executive order of the Governor of the state. Reprieves may be granted because of newly discovered evidence, awaiting the result of some last-minute appeal, or concern about an error in the conviction that is subject to investigation. When the reprieve expires, the date for execution can be rescheduled and the death penalty imposed. A reprieve is a temporary measure, a delay rather than a reduction of sentence, commutation of sentence or pardon.
