Legal Definitions - sentenced to time served

When a person is sentenced to time served, it means that the court formally imposes a jail sentence, but simultaneously acknowledges and credits the individual for the exact amount of time they have already spent in custody prior to that sentencing. Because the time already spent in jail or detention equals the new sentence, the individual is immediately released from custody.

Here are a few examples illustrating this concept:

• Example 1: Minor Offense with Pre-Trial Detention
  Maria was arrested for a minor public disturbance and spent 10 days in county jail because she couldn't afford bail while awaiting her court date. When her case finally came before the judge, she pleaded guilty. The judge sentenced her to 10 days in jail but declared it "time served."

  Explanation: This means Maria's 10-day sentence was considered fulfilled by the 10 days she had already spent in jail before her sentencing. She was released immediately after the court hearing, as she had already completed her punishment.

• Example 2: Plea Agreement after Extended Custody
  David was held in custody for four months after being charged with a non-violent property crime, as his legal team negotiated a plea agreement. Eventually, he agreed to plead guilty to a lesser charge. The judge accepted the plea and sentenced him to four months in jail, specifying "time served."

  Explanation: In this situation, David's four-month sentence was satisfied by the four months he had already spent in jail awaiting his plea. He did not have to return to jail and was free to leave the courthouse immediately, having already served the imposed sentence.

• Example 3: Probation Violation
  Sarah, who was on probation, was arrested for a minor technical violation, such as missing a required meeting with her probation officer. She spent two days in jail before her probation revocation hearing. The judge found she had violated her probation but sentenced her to two days in jail, crediting her with "time served."

  Explanation: Sarah's two-day sentence for the probation violation was covered by the two days she had already been held in jail. She was released and allowed to continue her probation, often with new conditions, because her sentence was considered fulfilled by her pre-hearing detention.