Sentencing is the point in a criminal case, where the defendant has been found guilty, and now will be informed of the punishments they will face. Sentencing comes in two parts, first the judge decides what the sentence will be. In the case of a murder trial, the punishment will range from prison time ranging from several years to a life sentence. Additionally, in some states the death penalty may be a viable sentence for some cases. The second aspect of sentencing involves setting the conditions of the sentence. This includes things like probation, the length of prison time, and if a death penalty is selected, the method of execution will be chosen in this process. Defendants who are incarcerated, may receive parole during their prison stay.
