Legal Definitions - nominal sentence

Definition: A criminal sentence that is in name only and is exceedingly light.

Example: A person convicted of a serious crime, such as murder, receiving only a fine or a short period of community service as punishment.

Explanation: A nominal sentence is a punishment that is so light that it does not serve as a deterrent to the offender or as a warning to others who may consider committing the same crime. The example illustrates this by showing that a person who commits a serious crime, such as murder, should receive a more severe punishment than just a fine or community service.