Local Law Firms Home > Criminal Defense Attorney Overview > Sentencing At the end of a trial, whether the defendant pleads guilty or the jury finds him or her guilty, it is then time for the defendant to be sentenced and his or her penalties will be decided upon and then announced by the judge. Sentencing for a crime is very broad can range from community service hours or probation to lengthy, lifelong prison sentences or the death penalty.
Sentencing normally occurs almost right after convictions for smaller and more minor crimes, such as minor misdemeanors or infractions, in which a defendant has taken a guilty plea. In more complicated criminal charges, however, including ones that involve severe acts of violence and felonies, the sentencing judge normally receives input from the defense team, the prosecutor, and the probation department, which creates a pre-sentence report that contains recommendations for appropriate sentencing.
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