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"Nolo Everybody's Legal Dictionary":
Punishment in a criminal case. A sentence can range from a fine and community service to life imprisonment or death. For most crimes, the sentence is chosen by the trial judge, who is limited by law to a narrow range of options -- for example, burglary might be punishable by three, five or seven years in prison. Some crimes in some states, however, carry an indeterminate sentence--for example, "20 years to life" for first-degree murder. (The state's parole board decides when, if ever, the defendant should be paroled after he has has served the 20-year minimum.) The jury chooses the sentence only in a capital case, when it must choose between life in prison without parole and death.
See Topic: Lawsuits & Mediation Criminal Law |