maximum sentence
Longest possible incarceration
A maximum sentence is the longest prison term a judge can impose for a particular crime under law.
Courts often speak of sentencing ranges, with the maximum representing the upper limit: He faces a maximum sentence of twenty years.
Judges may impose less based on circumstances, but cannot exceed the statutory maximum.
- prison termLength of incarceration
- hard timeStruggle or imprisonment
- parole eligibilityQualification for supervised freedom
- mitigating factorsCircumstances reducing culpability
- probation periodConditional employment phase
mandatory minimums · retributive justice · aggravating circumstances · parole board · judicial discretion · verdict · court ruling · throw the book · twenty to life · plea bargaining · correctional facility · moral culpability · life imprisonment · death penalty · penal code · victim impact statement · guard · criminal conviction
- prison sentencesprison term, jail time, life without parole, mandatory minimum, doing time
- sentencingdeath row, probation, mandatory minimum, imprisonment, prison term
- Sentencing Factorsmitigating factors, aggravating factors, extenuating circumstances, criminal history, prior record
maximum sentenceminimum sentence
Least punishment required by law
suspended sentence · reduced sentence · time served · probation · commuted sentence
maximum sentenceacquittal
Formal clearing of charges
not guilty verdict · dismissal · exoneration · charges dropped · release
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