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Suspended Sentence Definition?

What is a Suspended Sentence? A suspended sentence is when a judge orders the defendant to serve a period of time in jail, but then orders that the defendant does not really have to serve the sentence for one reason or another. For example, a judge might sentence a defendant to 10 days in jail, suspended if they pay $10,000 in restitution owed to the victim.

Common Questions

What is the point of a suspended sentence?

The point of a suspended sentence depends on the case and the defendant. If a judge believes jail is appropriate, but the defendant is too ill to serve time or has made great strides at rehabilitation, they might order that jail time be suspended. A judge can also suspend jail time to reward a defendant’s compliance with probation or bond.

What happens if you have a suspended sentence?

If the judge suspends the sentence or suspends jail, then the defendant does not have to serve the corresponding jail sentence.

What does a 3 year suspended sentence mean?

There really isn’t a scenario in Michigan that would result in a three-year suspended sentence.

What does a 10-year sentence with 5 suspended mean?

In this situation, a judge sentenced a criminal defendant to a 10-year prison term but imposes five years in confinement and allows them to serve the remaining five years on probation.

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