A suspended sentence is a type of sentence on conviction for a criminal offense, where the serving of the sentence is deferred, and the defendant is allowed to perform a period of probation. During this probation period, the defendant must fulfill certain conditions, such as refraining from committing any other crimes, attending counseling or rehabilitation programs, or paying restitution to the victim. If the defendant violates any of the conditions, the state may petition to revoke the suspended sentence and reimpose the original term of the sentence.

It is important to note that a suspended sentence is different from probation, which is a type of alternative to jail where a defendant serves their sentence in the community under the supervision of the judge or a probation officer. A suspended sentence typically means that a conviction will remain on a person’s criminal record.

The decision to grant or deny a suspended sentence is at the discretion of the judge, who will consider factors such as the defendants criminal record and history, the seriousness of the charges, and whether the defendant is a flight risk or a safety risk to the community. The point of a suspended sentence is to rehabilitate offenders and encourage them to be of good behavior.