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It's not clear what is meant by "a change in character". Such an change -- except for a descent into insanity -- does not end the trial. If a defendant is acquitted for any reason, that's the end of the case. If s/he is found insane, then, depending on local law, the defendant may be sent to a mental institution.

There have been cases of clemency, pardons, usually after time spent in prison, and parole is frequently granted based on a change in character for the better: a "reformed" prisoner. This did not help Caryle Chessman; and while it did help Jack Henry Abbott it did not help the poor waiter he murdered simply because the waiter wasn't allowed to let Abbott use the bathroom in the restaurant where he worked. And it didn't help Karla Faye Tucker, whose execution Gov. George W. Bush allowed to proceed
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/17670

The fourth link below cites [Arizona] cases where a defendant claimed to have been under the influence of someone else when the crime was committed, and to have changed character since, and other cases of changes in character. Such arguments rarely have much inluence upon a judge. Occasionally they work to dissuade a jury from imposing the death penalty.

For minor offenses, misdemeanors, on the other hand, a change in character or, more likely, an argument that the offense was out of character (such as what we are hearing from Mel Gibson now) may well influence the judge to put the case on file (allow it to lay on the file; the terminology varies by jurisdiction) or grant a suspended sentence, or convict for a lesser included offense.

2006-08-04 02:11:51 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Pardon or Parole

2006-08-04 02:15:30 · answer #2 · answered by DeltaQueen 6 · 0 0

Gullibility?

2006-08-04 01:44:17 · answer #3 · answered by blackfangz 4 · 0 0

The word is rehabilitation

2006-08-04 07:25:12 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

parole

2006-08-04 07:09:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

pardon,

2006-08-04 01:50:15 · answer #6 · answered by mason x 4 · 0 0

repeatoffenderitis

2006-08-04 01:47:09 · answer #7 · answered by Bob D 6 · 0 0

loophole.

2006-08-04 01:50:19 · answer #8 · answered by CHUPATHINGY 2 · 0 0

Parole...............

2006-08-04 01:54:27 · answer #9 · answered by tallerfella 7 · 0 0

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