History Main / GetOutOfJailFreeCard

* In ''Anime/MahouSenseiNegima'', Kotaro has what amounts to a get out of jail free card after his second appearance. [[spoiler: He helps Negi [[DistressBall save the girls]] from [[AntiVillain Wilhelm]], is granted his freedom, and proceeds to transfer to [[ElaborateUniversityHigh Mahora]].]] Ironically, he had ''escaped'' from jail before he did this, so it was more of a ''Stay'' Out Of Jail Free Card.

* From Fanfic/TheLittlePonyLegend:

{{Heel face turn}}ers and {{Anti Hero}}es are often fascinating characters. They can add a level of grey, be someone who understands villain motivations, or provide a [[TheAtoner good source of angst]]. In a series with CardboardPrison tendencies, it's a lot more of an effective way of ending a threat.

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* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indulgence Indulgences]] were a method in medieval Catholicism of skipping penance for confessed sins. They can thus be seen as "get out of purgatory free" cards. Particularly corrupt priests would not only sell these indulgences in exchange for cash donations, they'd falsely advertise them to their usually-illiterate parishioners as not just allowing them to skip penance for their sins, but as providing ''preemptive forgiveness for future sins''. In other words, they claimed to sell "get out of hell free" cards. While this misuse of indulgences was never condoned by the church hierarchy, it was widely ''ignored'' by them, which was a major part of how Protestant Christianity came into existence. Nowadays, you can just buy [[http://www.getoutofhellfree.com/ Get Out of Hell Free]] cards online. (They come in packs of 100.)

** Subverted in the case of Roy Mustang, who feels immensely guilty for his actions during the Ishvalan Civil War; [[YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame being considered a war hero for committing mass murder sickens him]], and he actually wishes he ''was'' in jail for his actions.

The underlying logic to this trope is probably twofold: one, a character in prison isn't a potential cast member, and two, if the only reward for turning away from the path of evil and towards good is to be sent to prison and punished, then why would anyone ever abandon evil if they're going to be punished either way? In other words, being allowed to remain free--tormented or not--is almost like a karmic reward for the new hero's redemption, a second chance. That doesn't mean they necessarily feel good about it.

* The ''Anime/ChronoCrusade'' manga has Chrono, who--after flying into an UnstoppableRage and [[spoiler: charges after the BigBad, tossing cable cars ''with people still inside'' at him, setting part of San Francisco ablaze and actually killing some people in the process]], is held captive by the Order for some time and actually ordered to be executed. He just ''barely'' manages to escape punishment because (1) he needs to help Rosette find her long-lost brother, (2) he's [[TheAtoner obviously repentant]] and (3) [[spoiler:he's able to prove to Father Remington that he's learned to control his temper. However, Father Remington goes against orders to help him escape, and official records state that he was actually executed.]]

** In "Reunion", when Sheriff Logan learns that four ex-[[UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar Civil War]] nurses let a GeneralRipper die to spare his men, he decides they've suffered enough and lets them go--except for the one who killed their {{blackmail}}er, and he asks for her to get a prison sentence instead of being hanged.
* ''Series/{{Lucifer}}'': Corrupt cop Malcolm is killed but brought back to life after a minute. But to Malcolm, that was a near-eternity in Hell and is desperate to do anything not to go back. Realizing this, Amenadiel tries to get Malcolm to kill Lucifer (so Lucifer will return to Hell), but Lucifer buys him off by offering an ancient coin that will allow Malcolm passage out of Hell. When Malcolm [[spoiler: is shot by Chloe, he gloats to Lucifer he has the coin... only for Lucifer to reveal ''he'' just used it to get out of Hell himself. He smugly flips it to the dying Malcolm, who reaches only to watch the coin dissolve into thin air in mid-flip.]]

** Averted in another episode where the Powerpuff Girls were arrested for crimes committed by crooks wearing Powerpuff Girls disguises. They break out of prison and beat up the criminals, then get congratulations from the Mayor - right before he says that they're going back to prison for breaking out of prison.

** In the early part of the series Faith committed crimes including murder... and eventually accepted the idea of going to jail, after [[spoiler:trying to commit the Buffyverse equivalent of SuicideByCop]]. At the end of the series, she escaped - which was admittedly justified since she had an attempt on her life made and had to join the team to save the world; there was no sign that she intended to go back to jail once the emergency was over, though and in the Season Eight comics [[spoiler: she doesn't, and in fact her attempts to gain more permanent freedom outside the U.S. indicate she really did never plan to go back]]. This is partly justified, since she's still a Slayer, and therefore more useful to the world-saving forces of Good when on the outside, and owing to an ongoing [[TheAtoner redemption plot]], but ''still''...
** Andrew murders Jonathan and is accepted as a member of the group with no punishment (aside from spending a few days tied to a chair and being initially shunned), and is never turned in to the authorities - even once it becomes clear to the group that he has no useful information to offer them. He ends up remaining as a (often hopelessly useless) member of the team in Season Eight, though his role there seems to largely be to create PluckyComicRelief... which, come to think of it, makes it all the more disturbing in a way.

** Everyone in ''Buffy'' gets a pass from all the others, because there is really no one to cast the first stone. They've all done it. This is pointed out in "First Date," when The First, as Jonathan, is trying to get Andrew to turn back against Buffy:

* In the political discourse - particularly regarding the economic downturn after 2007, the term "Too big to Jail" has made the rounds, [[Administrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment and the rest of that discussion can be had elsewhere]].

* In ''{{Disney/Tangled}}'', Flynn steals one of the kingdom's most valuable {{Cool Crown}}s, but then at the end brings back the long-lost princess, which is of course even more valuable to the king and queen. Needless to say, Flynn gets a full pardon [[spoiler:and eventually gets to marry the princess]].

* Presumably because drowning would be awkward to show on stage, the stage adaptation of ''[[Disney/{{Aladdin}} Disney's Aladdin]]'' has Aladdin use his second wish to get himself and his friends out of jail.

* The "Get out of Hell Free" card (see "Comic Books" above) is also central to the ''WesternAnimation/DCUniverseAnimatedOriginalMovies'' film ''WesternAnimation/SuicideSquadHellToPay''.

This ''can'' be TruthInTelevision but in a much more complicated way than in fiction. People in organized crime facing life sentences or even the death penalty have been given immunity from prosecution for testifying against mob bosses, but the road to immunity has historically been so dangerous, in some cases necessitating a lifetime of witness protection, that it's a legal sentence in and of itself.

* On ''Series/{{Lucifer}}'', corrupt cop Malcolm is killed but brought back to life after a minute. But to Malcolm, that was a near-eternity in Hell and is desperate to do anything not to go back. Realizing this, Amenadiel tries to get Malcolm to kill Lucifer (so Lucifer will return to Hell) by offering an ancient coin that will allow Malcolm passage out of Hell. When Malcolm [[spoiler: is shot by Chloe, he gloats to Lucifer he has the coin...only for Lucifer to reveal ''he'' just used it to get out of Hell himself. He smugly flips it to the dying Malcolm, who reaches only to watch the coin dissolve into thin air in mid-flip.]]

* Parodied in ''Series/{{Reaper}}'' with its "Get Out of Hell Free" card.

See also SavedByTheAwesome. Contrast KarmaHoudini, where ''no'' such explanation is given. Also contrast NeverGoingBackToPrison.

* In the political discourse - particularly regarding the economic downturn after 2007, the term "Too big to Jail" has made the rounds, [[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment and the rest of that discussion can be had elsewhere]].

** In America, it is common for outgoing presidents to issue a hurricane of pardons to protect their various friends from whatever nefarious deeds they committed during the president's term. There is also mounting pressure for Presidents to use this power to alleviate the sentences of non-violent criminals who were the victims of Mandatory Minimum sentencing laws, which to some voters seem over-harsh.

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': Ilia attacks and severely wounds Sun and is fully aware of Adam's plot to attack Haven Academy. However, she has a long friendship with Blake, who isn't interested in punishing her: she just wants to help Ilia find a way back from the moral cliff edge she's currently jumping off. [[spoiler:Ilia is also an accessory to the murder of Sienna, having knowing about it in advance, and also is required to set up Blake's kidnapping for Adam while the Albain brothers assassinate Blake's parents. During the fight inside the Belladonna household, Blake convinces Ilia to turn her back on Adam's vision for the White Fang. When Blake publicly announces that she's going to forgive Ilia and let her come with her to save Haven, Sabre Rodentia, the police chief, demands to know why Ilia's going to be forgiven instead of thrown into jail for all she's done. Ghira then gives Sabre a lecture in the strength of forgiveness while Sun's 'revenge' for being stabbed is to give Ilia's arm a quick pinch and call it even.]]

* In fact, a Presidential pardon actually has a great deal of power; it is stated under Article II, Section 2 of the United States Constitution which states that the President "shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment", which means a U.S. President can pardon or reduce the sentences of almost anyone he wants. Of course, most don't abuse this right with regards to important cases, and many pardons are granted posthumously. (One notable example was Jimmy Carter's unconditional pardon of all Americans who illegally evaded the draft during the Vietnam War.)

* ''Film/ClearAndPresentDanger'': When Jack Ryan learns about Operation Reciprocity, an illegal war being fought in Columbia, he confronts Ritter with incriminating evidence. Ritter produces an "autographed get out of jail free card" in the form of written authorization from the President of the United States. The film treats this as applying to Ritter only, while the original novel states that this is for the CIA as a whole and anyone they recruited for said operation.

* ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'':
** The series has the Time Space Administration Bureau justifiably arrest Fate Testarossa for her actions during the "Jewel Seed incident." However, seeing as Fate was a minor, acted on the orders of an abusive and insane parent, never personally committed a major crime, and had [[HeelFaceTurn expressed remorse and a sincere desire to repent]], sympathetic officers were more than willing to represent her at her trial and were able to get off with only community service (i.e. [[BoxedCrook working for the Administration]]), which she was more than willing to do. One of these officers later [[HappilyAdopted adopted her]]. Her familiar Arf received similar treatment.

* In pre-Flashpoint ''ComicBook/SecretSix'' an actual "Get out of Hell Free" card played a key role in one storyline. Pretty much every member of the team and villains outside of the team wanted it because they knew they were damned. The trope is otherwise averted: the Six go back to being straight-up villains as the series draws to a close, when they realize that the good they've done as a team of Antiheroes/Antivillains can't save them from eternal damnation.
** It's noted how some who don't even ''believe'' in an afterlife still want the card "just in case."

* ''[[ComicBook/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicIDW My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic #23]]'' featured a Kelpie who [[{{Brainwashing}} brainwashed]] the entire town with MindControlMusic and forced them to begin demolishing a dam that would inevitably flood and destroy Ponyville. When she's thwarted by the pets and explains she was doing it to help some water sprites get to the ocean, the ponies forgive everything with Twilight Sparkle's now infamous line "Sure she made the wrong choice but she made it for the right reasons. She was trying to help her friends. We've all done something silly for a friend, right?" Most fans were ''not'' pleased by this, considering the kelpie a KarmaHoudini and WellIntentionedExtremist, which led to mocking it with the [[https://www.derpibooru.org/tags/twilight+justifies+evil+meme Twilight Justifies Evil Meme]] where she forgives everyone from [[HypocriticalHumor herself]] to [[CrossingTheLineTwice Adolf Hitler]] in this manner.

* A number of villains have gotten this treatment in ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', including Trixie (in her second appearance), Discord, Starlight Glimmer, and (if we're to include ''[[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirls Equestria Girls]]'') Sunset Shimmer, all of whom were more or less instantly forgiven after doing some seriously bad stuff. While Trixie and Discord are justified (The former was [[TheCorruption corrupted]] by an ArtifactOfDoom and the ponies ''wanted'' to reform the latter ForTheGreaterGood, where absolvement would be a necessary part of the deal), Sunset Shimmer really has ''no'' excuse for being let off so easily. Starlight Glimmer's seems to be the most contested, with [[BrokenBase some fans considering her a victim whose forgiveness was deserved and others considering her a heartless villainous monster that got off scott-free]].

* The ''Anime/ChronoCrusade'' manga has Chrono, who--after flying into an UnstoppableRage and [[spoiler: charges after the BigBad, tossing cable cars ''with people still inside'' at him, setting part of San Fransisco ablaze and actually killing some people in the process]], is held captive by the Order for some time and actually ordered to be executed. He just ''barely'' manages to escape punishment because (1) he needs to help Rosette find her long-lost brother, (2) he's [[TheAtoner obviously repentant]] and (3) [[spoiler:he's able to prove to Father Remington that he's learned to control his temper. However, Father Remington goes against orders to help him escape, and official records state that he was actually executed.]]

* This happens a lot in the ''Anime/QueensBlade'' franchise: Basically, any evil character who was defeated and manage to get this only gets a slap in the wrist. The three most notorious examples are [[spoiler:Claudette after being defeated in ''Rebellion'', since the card itself are ''[[YouCannotFightFate the gods themselves]]''. Werbellia, as the cards are ''her daughters'', not to mention she was controlled against her will by the real Swamp Witch and Dogura in the ''Vanquished Queens'' [=OVAs=], by Tomoe, despise all the crap he did, including destroying Hinomoto (Tomoe's homeland) and the only thing he got is being [[LiteralAssKicking bitten in the ass by some wild squirrel at the end of the episode]]]]. The only exceptions to this rule are [[spoiler: Delmore in the gamebook continuity and in the anime, Ramshel, Sushel and Weiss from the videogames and everyone from the Cult of Arunikuf from the ''Queen's Gate'' novels, and that's because all of them are ''killed'', albeit Ramshel and Sushel came back from the dead in the sequel]].

* In pre-Flashpoint ''ComicBook/SecretSix'' an actual "Get out of Hell Free" card played a key role in one storyline. Pretty much every member of the team and villains outside of the team wanted it because they knew they were damned. The trope is otherwise averted: the Six go back to being straight-up villains as the series draw to a close when they realize that the good they've done as a team of Antiheroes/antivillains can't save them from eternal damnation.

* In ''Film/StarTrekIIITheSearchForSpock'', the TOS crew commits numerous crimes to help resurrect Spock such as forcibly stealing the decommissioned USS Enterprise, sabotaging the USS Excelsior, later destroying the Enterprise. To that, the whole idea of ''Film/StarTrekIVTheVoyageHome'' is to create an opportunity so spectacular for the crew to save Earth that they could get off easy for the above charges. As it is, the only punishment is a token one of Admiral Kirk being demoted to Captain again for insubordination, even as the authorities understand full well [[{{Unishment}} he preferred that lower rank]].

* In ''{{Disney/Tangled}}'', Flynn steals one of the kingdom's most valuable {{Cool Crown}}s, but then at the end brings back the long-lost princess, which is even more valuable to the king and queen. Needless to say Flynn gets a full pardon [[spoiler:and eventually gets to marry the princess]].
* In ''{{Film/Paddington}}'', Millicent [[spoiler:spent half the movie trying to add the obviously sentient Paddington to her stuffed animal collection. In-story it might be possible to mount a legal defence on the grounds that Paddington was not human, but she also was willing to kill and stuff the entire Brown family. Her punishment? Community service in a petting zoo]].

* In ''Literature/TheThreeMusketeers'', Cardinal Richelieu gives one of these to Milady de Winter: "It is on my orders and for the good of France that the bearer of this letter has done what they have done." Athos promptly steals it, and when he, the other titular Musketeers and D'Artagnan kill Milady de Winter he gives it to D'Artagnan for use against ''Richelieu himself''. [[GracefulLoser Who decides to accept it and give him a promotion]].

* ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'': The end of the show didn't make any reference to whether Tom Paris and all the Maquis would be pardoned for their crimes after they got back to the Alpha quadrant - in the alternate future of the finale they clearly were though, or at least let off with a proverbial slap on the wrist.

* Parodized in ''Series/{{Reaper}}'' with its "Get Out of Hell Free" card.

* Subverted in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion''. When the player character becomes [[spoiler:Sheogorath, prince of madness,]] it is impossible for him to be imprisoned within the Shivering Isles; the guards will instead escort you outside the city limits and leave you to go off adventuring until you can pay the fine (or not). This sometimes leads to the less then amusing glitch of having a fine considered by the game to be too large to be payed off with no option to serve your sentence (that is, your crimes being so heinous the only option is immediate attempted execution by the arresting guard or jail) making walking through most towns feel reminiscent of any given level from Splinter Cell.

** The only men Swagger killed during the film were men that officially, didn't exist. If the BigBad so much as said a single word about it, [[spoiler: it would've been an admittance of TheConspiracy and its attempts at first framing, then murdering him]] of which there was plenty of circumstantial evidence around. Considering the more than apparent hostility the war council had toward him, he just took the victory of getting the hell out of there with his own GetOutOfJailFreeCard while he could. Unfortunately for him, [[spoiler: the Attorney General had given Swagger another indirect "card" and took full advantage of it at the end of the film]].

** The only men Swagger killed during the film were men that officially, didn't exist. If the BigBad so much as said a single word about it, it would've been an admittance of TheConspiracy and its attempts at first framing, then murdering him of which there was plenty of circumstantial evidence around. Considering the more than apparent hostility the war council had toward him, he just took the victory of getting the hell out of there with his own GetOutOfJailFreeCard while he could. Unfortunately for him, the Attorney General had given Swagger another indirect "card" and took full advantage of it at the end of the film.