Treated nicely after admitting offences — essentially this! (8)

I believe the answer is:

leniency

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(Other definitions for leniency that I've seen before include "Mercy, tolerance" , "Clemency, mercy" , "Clemency, tolerance" , "Mercifulness" , "Opposite of severity - state of mildness" .)

I've seen this clue in The Hindu.

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