### Clue: A short stretch of time criminal tries to reduce gradually (8)
### Answer: AMORTISE 
 ### Explanation: Definition: to reduce gradually
 A + MO(short for "moment"/a short stretch of time, but not that in jail) + **anagram of**(criminal) TRIES.
Defn: In financial accounting, the reduction of the cost of an asset, gradually/over a number of accounting periods.