Criminal sentencing can take multiple forms. Alternative sentences may include one or more of the following: sentence suspension, restitution, probation, fines, or community service. A judge, typically, decides whether to use alternative sentencing based on the nature of the offense, the defendant’s age, their criminal history, and the defendant’s remorse. Readers can Click Here for an explanation of the alternative sentencing types a defendant may get with the help of the Wegmann Law Firm in Jefferson County MO.
Suspended Sentencing
As a prison alternative, judges may issue suspended sentences where they refrain from meting out a penalty, or they decide on a penalty but decline to implement it. Suspended sentences are typically reserved for first offenders or less severe crimes, and they can be conditional or unconditional, with no post-sentencing requirements.
Probation
Probation is another incarceration alternative. Similar to the suspended sentence, probation allows a defendant to return home. However, the defendant has less freedom than an ordinary citizen. Probation is typically given to low-risk or first-time offenders. The law largely determines when probation is given, but judges often have discretion. Probation imposes restrictions on the defendant’s behavior and, if any condition is violated, the probation may be revoked.
Fines
Almost everyone has paid a fine in the form of a traffic ticket, and those convicted of more severe offenses pay steeper fines. Most fines are imposed as a form of punishment, but they also compensate the state for the infraction while deterring the defendant from committing a crime in the future.
Restitution
Restitution is, essentially, a fine paid by a perpetrator to the victim of the crime. Judges normally order restitution in cases where the victim incurred financial losses, and the payments are intended to restore that person to their pre-offense financial condition.
Community Service
In some instances, judges order offenders to work on the community’s behalf. In exchange, the defendant gets a reduced jail term or fine. Community service can be given along with another alternative sentence, with the concept being that the service is more beneficial to society than incarceration.
Every crime is different, and it can be difficult for defendants to know what type of sentence they may receive. If anyone is charged with a criminal offense, they should consult a criminal lawyer as soon as possible. By hiring the Wegmann Law Firm in Jefferson County MO, the defendant can protect their rights and navigate the legal system.
