Sentencing Information and Terms

 Terms:

M.D.C. = Missouri Department of Corrections (prison)
M.S.I. = Medium Security Institution (jail)

Range of punishment for Crimes:

• Felonies:
  Class A: 10-30 years or life in M.D.C
  Class B: 5-15 years M.D.C
  Class C: 1 day -7 years M.D.C. and/or fine up to $7000
  Class D: 1 day -4 years M.D.C. and/or fine up to $5000
   
• Misdemeanors:
  Class A: Up to 1 year M.S.I. and/or fine up to $1000
  Class B: Up to 6 months M.S.I and/or fine up to $500
  Class C: Up to 15 days M.S.I and/or fine up to $300
   
• Some laws expand the range of punishment available on a case depending on the criminal history of the defendant. For example, prior drug offender has a higher range of punishment on a drug case then a person with no prior drug offense.
   
• S.I.S. = Suspended Imposition of Sentence: the defendant is placed on probation.
  • If the defendant successfully completes probation, no sentence is ever actually ordered so an S.I.S. is not considered a ‘conviction’ for anything other than law enforcement purposes.
     
• S.E.S. = Suspended Execution of Sentence: The defendant is placed on probation with a term of years already determined if they violate the probation.
  • The Judge is limited to executing only that sentence if the defendant is revoked. An S.E.S. is a conviction for all purposes.
     
• R.S.Mo. 559.115 allows the Judge to sentence a nonviolent defendant to incarceration in M.D.C. but call back the defendant before 120 days has elapsed and grant probation. This is sometimes called “shock” or “drug treatment” time.
   
• R.S. Mo. 217.362 allows the Judge to sentence a nonviolent defendant to a two year drug treatment program in M.D.C., then call back the defendant and grant probation.