Postponement of punishment, also known as a REPRIEVE, is the temporary suspension of a sentence, usually for a period of time. It is often granted by a government or court in order to give the convicted person an opportunity to appeal their conviction or to make amends for their crime. Reprieves can also be granted for humanitarian reasons, such as illness or old age. Postponement of punishment is a form of clemency that can be used to reduce or eliminate a sentence.