sentence Hear it!

sentence definition - legal

n

The pronouncement of punishment by a court following a criminal defendant having been found guilty of a crime.

v

 The handing down of a term of punishment by a court. 
cumulative sentences
See consecutive sentences.
concurrent sentences
Two or more periods of incarceration time that are to be served simultaneously. Concurrent sentences have the effect of being a single period of confinement, with the longer one being the limit; for example, a person sentenced to serve concurrent sentences of ten and twelve years concurrently will serve a maximum of twelve years.
conditional discharge sentence
The person is given no confinement, as long as she performs or does not perform certain specified acts. Failure to follow sentencing provisions may result in confinement after a hearing. See also probation.
consecutive sentences
Two or more periods of incarceration time that are to be served in succession. Consecutive sentences have the effect of being the sum of the periods of confinement named, so a person sentenced to serve consecutive sentences of ten and twelve years will serve a maximum of twenty-two years.
deferred sentence
A sentence that will not be imposed unless the defendant fails to fulfill the conditions of probation.
determinate sentence
A sentence of confinement for a specific length of time rather than for an unspecified period.
extended sentence
An infliction of a more severe period of confinement than is normal for an offense because the perpetrator is a repeat or habitual offender, or where there is a perception that the offender represents a continuing danger to society.
indeterminate sentence
A sentence of an unspecified duration, such as from 10 to 25 years, or one that a parole board can reduce after the statutory minimum has been served.
mandatory sentence
A sentence spelled out by law and over which the judge has no discretionary power to tailor to the person being sentenced.
split sentence
A sentence in which there is enough of a period of confinement to give the wrongdoer a taste of imprisonment, followed by a period of probation, with the second usually being the longer part of the term.
suspended sentence
See conditional discharge sentence.

Webster's New World Law Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.
Related Discussions (37)
TopicRepliesLatest Post
What's missing in this sentence?111 week ago
Sentence correction63 weeks ago
Sentence correction81 month ago
Your thoughts on this sentence512 months ago
4 questions on one sentence1232 months ago

See all 37 discussions · Browse Forums