§ 144.649 Granting reprieves, commutations and pardons generally; remission of penalties and forfeitures

The governor has the power to change or forgive criminal punishments after someone has been convicted. This means the governor can delay a punishment, reduce it, or fully forgive it. The governor can also cancel fines or forfeited property that a person was ordered to pay or give up as part of their sentence.

The governor gets to decide the conditions for any of these actions. This means the governor can attach rules or limits to a pardon, commutation, or reprieve. For example, the governor might grant a pardon but require the person to meet certain conditions first, or place limits on what the pardon covers.

This power applies to any crime and can be used at any point after a conviction or judgment has been entered. It gives the governor broad authority to step in and change the outcome of a criminal case, even after the courts have finished their work.