What is a pardon?

A pardon refers to the act of forgiving an individual for a crime, effectively absolving them of legal consequences associated with that crime. When a person is pardoned, it means that they are no longer considered guilty of the offense, and thus, the legal penalties typically imposed as a result of that offense are lifted. This can restore rights such as the ability to vote or hold public office, and it reinstates the individual's standing in society.

In the context of the other options, reducing the length of a prison sentence refers more to commutation, which is different from a complete pardon. Postponing a prison sentence suggests a delay rather than an absolution of guilt, which does not encompass the idea of a pardon. Lastly, releasing a prisoner early without conditions typically correlates more with parole or conditional release rather than a pardon, which is an act of forgiveness rather than merely modifying confinement terms. Thus, the defining characteristic of a pardon is its role in forgiving the crime, which distinguishes it from all the other choices presented.