{"id":352236,"date":"2023-09-05T20:26:16","date_gmt":"2023-09-06T01:26:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/criminal\/criminal-procedure\/alternative-sentences.html"},"modified":"2023-09-05T20:26:16","modified_gmt":"2023-09-06T01:26:16","slug":"alternative-sentences","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-procedure\/alternative-sentences.html","title":{"rendered":"Alternative Sentences"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 fl-sectionWithSidebar fl-container fl-flex fl-flex-wrap fl-gap30\">\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-page-articles fl-section-main fl-section-main-full-width\">\n        <h1 class=\"fl-no-margin-top\">Alternative Sentences<\/h1>\n<section class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline\">\n    <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-content\">\n                    By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/sarah-williams-j-d\/\">Sarah Williams, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by <a\n                href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/melissa-bender-esq\/\">Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n                | Last reviewed\n        <time>\n                            September 05, 2023\n                    <\/time>\n    <\/div>\n\n    \n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-legally-reviewed\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Legally Reviewed\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/company-history\/editorial-policy.html\">our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n\n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-fast-checked\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Fact-Checked\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/contributing-authors.html\">contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=bylinelink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n<\/section>\n    <div class=\"fl-callout-text article-blockquote\">\n        <p>A criminal conviction doesn&#8217;t always mean a trip to jail or a prison sentence. Sentences take many forms.&nbsp;In many cases, alternative penalties and programs can offer a better outcome.<\/p>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n<p>The criminal justice system allows for alternative sentencing options, including:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>A suspended sentence<\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/legalblogs\/criminal-defense\/5-things-you-should-know-about-house-arrest\/\">House arrest<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li>Probation<\/li>\r\n<li>Fines and restitution<\/li>\r\n<li>Community service<\/li>\r\n<li>Deferred adjudication\/pretrial diversion<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>A&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/criminal-law\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">criminal defense lawyer<\/a>&nbsp;can negotiate an alternative sentence in your plea agreement. This article explores alternative sentencing that could apply in a criminal case.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Suspended Sentences<\/h2>\r\n<p>A judge typically announces the criminal sentence after a defendant enters a guilty plea or conviction. A judge can issue a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-procedure\/suspended-sentences.html\">suspended sentence<\/a>&nbsp;as an alternative to imprisonment. This is where the judge either:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Refrains from announcing and handing down a sentence (stay of imposition) or<\/li>\r\n<li>Decides on a sentence but refrains from having the defendant carry it out (stay of execution)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>Judges determine whether to impose alternative sentences based on:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>The type and severity of criminal charges<\/li>\r\n<li>The defendant&#8217;s criminal history<\/li>\r\n<li>The age of the defendant<\/li>\r\n<li>The defendant&#8217;s remorse<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>Suspended sentences can be unconditional or conditional. An unconditional suspended sentence has no additional penalties except the criminal conviction, which remains part of the criminal record. There is no jail time, and it&#8217;s typically offered in a plea agreement for low-level, nonviolent crimes.<\/p>\r\n<h3>Conditional Suspensions<\/h3>\r\n<p>If the suspended sentence is conditional, the judge can hold off from imposing the punishment so long as the defendant&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.cornell.edu\/wex\/suspended_sentence\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fulfills the conditions<\/a>&nbsp;and remains law-abiding. It pauses the execution of the sentence for a specified period.<\/p>\r\n<p>Common conditions include:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Completing a substance abuse treatment program<\/li>\r\n<li>Maintaining curfew while on electronic monitoring or home detention<\/li>\r\n<li>Entering a rehabilitation program<\/li>\r\n<li>Random drug tests<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>Probation<\/h2>\r\n<p>Another alternative to prison is&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-procedure\/probation.html\">probation<\/a>. Like a suspended sentence, probation releases a defendant back into the community. Still, they do not have the same level of freedom as an ordinary citizen. Statutes determine when probation is possible. It is up to the sentencing judge to decide whether to grant probation. Courts typically grant probation for first-time or low-risk offenders.<\/p>\r\n<p>Probation comes with conditions that restrict behavior. Judges have a great deal of discretion over which conditions of probation to impose. Additionally, a probation officer is assigned to each probationer to ensure compliance. If the probationer violates one of those conditions, the prosecution may file a motion to revoke or modify the probation.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Fines<\/h2>\r\n<p>Almost all of us have had to pay a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-procedure\/fines.html\">fine<\/a>&nbsp;once or twice, often as a traffic or parking ticket. In many situations, people convicted of more serious crimes, such as felony offenses, must also pay fines. Generally, fines are imposed to:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Punish the offender<\/li>\r\n<li>Help compensate the state for the offense<\/li>\r\n<li>Deter any future criminal acts<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>Restitution<\/h2>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/restitution.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Restitution<\/a>&nbsp;is like a fine, but the payment made by the perpetrator of a crime goes to the victims instead of the court or municipality. Judges often order&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-procedure\/restitution.html\">restitution<\/a>&nbsp;in cases where victims suffered financial loss because of the crime. The payment is a form of restorative justice. It&#8217;s designed to make the victims whole and restore them to their position before the crime.<\/p>\r\n<p>For example, a graffiti artist who spray paints the side of a business may be ordered to pay restitution to the business owner for the property damage. The business owner could then repaint the building. In another example, a defendant who injures a victim in a fight must compensate the victim for their medical expenses.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Court-Ordered Community Service<\/h2>\r\n<p>In some circumstances, a judge will order a criminal defendant to complete work on behalf of the community. Usually, this requirement is in exchange for a reduction of fines or jail time.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-procedure\/court-ordered-community-service.html\">Court-ordered community service<\/a>&nbsp;usually comes with another type of alternative sentencing, such as probation. The community benefits from the work and avoids the cost of incarceration.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Deferred Adjudication\/Pretrial Diversion<\/h2>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-procedure\/deferred-adjudication-pretrial-diversion.html\">Deferred adjudication or diversion<\/a>&nbsp;programs remove the defendant from the ordinary prosecution process.&nbsp;These alternative sentencing programs allow certain charges to be dismissed. Offenders must first complete program expectations and have no new offenses.<\/p>\r\n<p>The goal is to give defendants time to show they can behave responsibly with adequate social services or mental health resources.&nbsp;In some states, drug courts recognize this option for first-time drug offenders.&nbsp;The defendant might not become a repeat offender if they complete a chemical dependency treatment program.<\/p>\r\n<p>Jurisdictions vary on the length of the programs and the eligibility requirements. For example, each county attorney&#8217;s office in Minnesota determines&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hennepinattorney.org\/about\/adult-diversion\/adult-diversion\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">diversion eligibility<\/a>&nbsp;for certain property and drug crimes. However, prior convictions for felony offenses will exclude certain defendants from participating.<\/p>\r\n<p>Like drug courts, mental health courts&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.vera.org\/diversion-programs-explained#:~:text=Diversion%20programs%20instead%20center%20the%20needs%20of%20communities%20with%20the%20goals%20of%20reducing%20incarceration%20rates%2C%20protecting%20public%20safety%2C%20and%20promoting%20healthy%20communities.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">divert<\/a>&nbsp;people diagnosed with mental illness into therapeutic treatment programs to reduce recidivism and improve their quality of life. Seven states do not have&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/mn.gov\/dhs\/assets\/mental-health-courts-in-the-us_tcm1053-434945.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">adult mental health<\/a>&nbsp;courts:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Connecticut<\/li>\r\n<li>Nebraska<\/li>\r\n<li>New Jersey<\/li>\r\n<li>North Dakota<\/li>\r\n<li>South Dakota<\/li>\r\n<li>Rhode Island<\/li>\r\n<li>Wyoming<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>The duration of the programs can vary based on an individual&#8217;s participation and progress through each phase or the length of the deferred sentence, for example, up to one year. Courts may use jail time, change in housing, and stricter treatment conditions as sanctions.<\/p>\r\n<p>In 2020, Congress passed the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/bja.ojp.gov\/program\/veterans-treatment-court-program\/overview\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Veterans Treatment Court Coordination Act<\/a>. This provides funding to state, local, and tribal governments to develop and maintain veterans treatment courts. These courts focus on recovery support services for veterans involved in the criminal law justice system. This includes veterans with substance use disorders, a history of violence, and post-traumatic stress disorder due to their military service.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Sanctions<\/h2>\r\n<p>If you fail to abide by the conditions of your alternative sentence, such as failing to pay restitution or getting arrested for new offenses, you could face severe penalties, including:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>A judgment by the court<\/li>\r\n<li>Ineligibility for future diversion programs<\/li>\r\n<li>Execution of your stayed sentence in county jail or boot camp<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>You can contest the grounds of the alleged violation by requesting a probation violation hearing or other evidentiary hearing.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Have Questions About Alternative Sentences? Ask an Attorney<\/h2>\r\n<p>No matter what criminal matter you&#8217;re facing, consult an experienced attorney. Some low-level offenses, such as nonviolent misdemeanors, may be eligible for alternative sentences that don&#8217;t include jail time.<\/p>\r\n<p>Even if you&#8217;re charged with serious offenses such as domestic violence or driving under the influence (DUI), it does not have to result in prison time. Contacting a local&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/criminal-law\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">criminal defense attorney<\/a>&nbsp;to better understand your situation and the path forward is a good idea.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"was-this-helpful\">\n    <div\n            class=\"was-this-helpful__question-container\"\n            aria-labelledby=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n            role=\"group\"\n    >\n        <span\n                id=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__question fl-text-lg-bold\"\n        >Was this helpful?<\/span>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"Yes\"\n                value=\"yes\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">Yes<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" 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