amnesty

An official pardon for people who have been convicted of or are accused of political or other offences; a period during which offenders can admit wrongdoing without punishment.

• (related: pardon
• clemency)

• grant amnesty
• amnesty programme
• general amnesty
• amnesty for political prisoners
• tax amnesty
• amnesty period

1. 1.South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission offered amnesty to individuals who fully disclosed politically motivated crimes committed during apartheid. (official pardon)
2. 2.The city ran a gun amnesty programme — residents could surrender illegal firearms during a two-week window without facing prosecution. (penalty-free period)

• pardon/ˈpɑːrdən/— forgiveness of a crime, usually individual
• clemency/ˈklɛmənsi/— mercy, leniency in punishment
• absolution/ˌæbsəˈluːʃən/— formal release from guilt

from Greek "amnestia" (forgetfulness) — from "a-" (not) + "mnestis" (remembering) — official forgetting of offences