Legal Definitions - creative sentence

Definition: A sentence other than incarceration, such as community service or victim restitution.

Example: Instead of sending a first-time offender to jail for stealing, the judge ordered them to perform 100 hours of community service at a local charity.

Explanation: A creative sentence is a punishment that is not traditional jail time. It is often used for first-time offenders or for minor crimes. In the example, the judge chose a creative sentence of community service instead of sending the offender to jail. This allows the offender to make amends for their crime while also contributing to the community.