In Washington, whenever a prisoner has been sentenced to death, the governor must have power to commute such sentence to imprisonment for life at hard labor. In all cases in which the governor is authorized to grant pardons or commute a sentence of death, s/he may commute a sentence or grant a pardon upon the petition of the person convicted. Moreover, it will be upon such conditions, such restrictions, and under such limitations as s/he may think proper. S/he may issue his or her warrant to all proper officers to carry into effect such pardon or commutation. The warrant must be obeyed and executed, in place of the sentence, if any, which was originally given. The governor may also grant respites or reprieves from time to time as s/he may think proper, on good cause shown [i].
Washington Pardon and Parole Laws
[i] Rev. Code Wash. (ARCW) § 10.01.120.