Okuzeka
Criminal Law & Justice vocabulary · Sentencing & Punishment

Suspended sentence

Meaning in criminal law & justice, with examples

/səˌspendɪd ˈsentəns/nounCommon term

In criminal law & justice, suspended sentence means: A prison sentence that the offender does not have to serve unless they commit another offence or break certain conditions during a set period.

In Turkish: ertelenmiş ceza, hapis cezasının ertelenmesi

How it is used

Judges 'suspend' a sentence or 'give someone a suspended sentence': 'six months' imprisonment, suspended for two years'. If the offender reoffends, the court can 'activate' the original sentence. It is usually given for less serious offences.

Example sentences

  1. He received a suspended sentence because it was his first offence.

  2. The judge gave her an eight-month suspended sentence.

  3. Breaking the conditions of a suspended sentence can lead to prison.

Common collocations

  • receive a suspended sentence
  • suspended for two years
  • activate a suspended sentence
  • suspended prison sentence
  • sentenceThe punishment that a judge gives a person who has been found guilty; as a verb, to give someone a particular punishment.
  • probationA sentence or period in which an offender lives in the community instead of prison but must follow rules and meet regularly with a probation officer.
  • community serviceUnpaid work that an offender must do for the local community, such as cleaning parks or repairing buildings, as a punishment instead of prison.
  • imprisonmentThe punishment of being kept in prison for a period of time; also the state of being in prison.
  • reoffendTo commit another crime after being punished for an earlier one.

More terms: Sentencing & Punishment

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not legal advice.