what is a suspended prison sentence

A suspended sentence is a type of sentence on conviction for a criminal offense, where the serving of the sentence is deferred to allow the defendant to perform a period of probation. The judge may partially or entirely suspend the convicted individuals prison or jail sentence so long as they fulfill certain conditions. If the conditions are violated, then the state may petition to revoke the suspended sentence and reimpose the original term of the sentence by proving, in an evidentiary hearing and by a preponderance of evidence standard, that the defendant indeed violated the condition(s) . 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. The point of a suspended sentence is to rehabilitate offenders, and good behavior is fundamental to the purpose of suspended sentences. The length of the probation period varies depending on the jurisdiction, and the sentencing guidelines indicate that it is appropriate for a sentence to be suspended if there is strong personal mitigation and/or a realistic prospect of rehabilitation, but suspended sentences should not be used for offenders who pose a risk to the public or who have committed serious crimes.