Legal Definitions - Sentence

A sentence refers to the formal punishment or judgment that a court imposes on an individual who has been found guilty of a crime. This judicial pronouncement outlines the specific consequences for the criminal wrongdoing, which can include a period of imprisonment, probation, fines, community service, restitution, or other conditions.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of a sentence:

• Example 1: After a jury found a defendant guilty of aggravated assault, the judge announced a sentence of five years in state prison. This means the court formally ordered the defendant to serve a five-year term of incarceration as punishment for the crime.

• Example 2: A college student, convicted of a first-time misdemeanor for underage drinking, received a sentence of six months of probation, a $200 fine, and 40 hours of community service. In this case, the probation, fine, and community service collectively form the court's mandated punishment, allowing the student to avoid jail time while still facing consequences for their actions.

• Example 3: An individual found guilty of embezzlement was given a sentence that included three years of supervised probation, an order to pay full restitution to the victims for the stolen funds, and a requirement to attend financial ethics counseling. Here, the court's judgment encompasses both a period of oversight and specific financial and rehabilitative obligations as the formal penalty for the crime.