Sentence vs. Penalty — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on March 27, 2024
A sentence is the judgment passed by a court specifying the punishment for a convicted individual, while a penalty is a punishment imposed for breaking a law, rule, or contract, not limited to legal contexts.
Difference Between Sentence and Penalty
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A sentence is formally declared by a judicial authority and applies specifically to the realm of criminal justice. It outlines the type of punishment, such as imprisonment, fine, or community service, to be served by someone found guilty of a crime. On the other hand, a penalty can be broader, encompassing any punishment or fine imposed for wrongdoing, not just within the criminal justice system but also in civil law, sports, contracts, and other areas of regulation.
While sentences are the outcome of a legal process involving trials and hearings within a courtroom, penalties can be applied more broadly and without the formalities of a court decision. For example, regulatory bodies can impose penalties for violations of industry standards, and sports organizations can penalize players or teams for breaking rules. This means that while all sentences are penalties in the context of criminal law, not all penalties are sentences.
The determination of a sentence is influenced by legal statutes, precedents, and the discretion of the judiciary, taking into account factors such as the nature of the crime, the defendant's criminal history, and mitigating circumstances. Conversely, penalties are often predefined by laws, regulations, or agreements, providing clear consequences for specific violations, making their application more straightforward in some cases.
Sentences aim to achieve multiple objectives including punishment, deterrence, rehabilitation, and restitution, focusing on both the offender and societal interests. Penalties, while also aiming to deter and punish, can have a broader range of purposes depending on the context, such as compensating for damages or enforcing standards of conduct in professional settings.
In summary, sentences are a specific type of penalty imposed by courts as a result of criminal proceedings, focused on legal punishment and rehabilitation, whereas penalties can be imposed in a wide range of contexts for various forms of misconduct, not necessarily requiring a judicial process.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Judicial decision specifying punishment for crime
Punishment imposed for wrongdoing
Context
Criminal justice system
Legal, sports, contracts, regulations
Imposition
By courts after a trial
By courts, regulatory bodies, or organizations
Types
Imprisonment, fine, community service
Fines, points, forfeiture of assets, suspensions
Purpose
Punishment, deterrence, rehabilitation
Deterrence, punishment, compensation
Determination
Based on legal statutes, judicial discretion
Often predefined by laws, rules, agreements
Focus
On legal offenses and rehabilitation
Broad, covering various forms of misconduct
Compare with Definitions
Sentence
A court's formal judgment on the punishment for a crime.
The sentence for the theft was two years in prison.
Penalty
A punishment imposed for breaking a law or rule.
The penalty for speeding is a $300 fine.
Sentence
Can be custodial, financial, or rehabilitative.
The judge issued a community service sentence.
Penalty
Can be applied in various contexts, not just legally.
The player received a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Sentence
Reflects judicial discretion and legal guidelines.
Sentences vary based on the severity of the crime.
Penalty
Includes fines, suspension, or loss of rights.
The contract breach carried a hefty financial penalty.
Sentence
Aims at legal punishment, deterrence, and rehabilitation.
His sentence includes mandatory counseling sessions.
Penalty
Aims to deter undesirable behavior and enforce standards.
Penalties for late project submissions are strict.
Sentence
Specifically applies to criminal proceedings.
After the verdict, the court will determine her sentence.
Penalty
Determined by specific violations and rules.
Environmental violations can lead to severe penalties.
Sentence
A grammatical unit that is syntactically independent and has a subject that is expressed or, as in imperative sentences, understood and a predicate that contains at least one finite verb.
Penalty
A punishment imposed for a violation of law.
Sentence
The penalty imposed by a law court or other authority upon someone found guilty of a crime or other offense.
Penalty
A sum established by a contract to be forfeited in lieu of actual damages in the event of a breach of the contract.
Sentence
(Archaic) A maxim.
Penalty
The disadvantage or painful consequences resulting from an action or condition
Neglected his health and paid the penalty.
Sentence
(Obsolete) An opinion, especially one given formally after deliberation.
Penalty
A punishment, handicap, or loss of advantage imposed on a team or competitor for infraction of a rule.
Sentence
To impose a sentence on (a criminal defendant found guilty, for example).
Penalty
An infraction of a rule; a foul.
Sentence
(dated) The decision or judgement of a jury or court; a verdict.
The court returned a sentence of guilt in the first charge, but innocence in the second.
Penalty
A penalty kick.
Sentence
The judicial order for a punishment to be imposed on a person convicted of a crime.
The judge declared a sentence of death by hanging for the infamous child rapist.
Penalty
A penalty shot.
Sentence
A punishment imposed on a person convicted of a crime.
Penalty
(Games) Points scored in contract bridge by the opponents when the declarer fails to make a bid.
Sentence
(obsolete) A saying, especially from a great person; a maxim, an apophthegm.
Penalty
A legal sentence.
The penalty for his crime was to do hard labor.
Sentence
(grammar) A grammatically complete series of words consisting of a subject and predicate, even if one or the other is implied, and typically beginning with a capital letter and ending with a full stop or other punctuation.
The children were made to construct sentences consisting of nouns and verbs from the list on the chalkboard.
Penalty
A punishment for violating rules of procedure.
Sentence
(logic) A formula with no free variables.
Penalty
(finance) A payment forfeited for an early withdrawal from an account or an investment.
Sentence
(computing theory) Any of the set of strings that can be generated by a given formal grammar.
Penalty
In sports
Sentence
(obsolete) Sense; meaning; significance.
Penalty
(football) A direct free kick from the penalty spot, taken after a defensive foul in the penalty box; a penalty kick.
Sentence
(obsolete) One's opinion; manner of thinking.
Penalty
(ice hockey) A punishment for an infraction of the rules, often in the form of being removed from play for a specified amount of time.
A penalty was called when he tripped up his opponent.
Sentence
A pronounced opinion or judgment on a given question.
Penalty
A disadvantageous consequence of a previous event.
Sentence
To declare a sentence on a convicted person; to condemn to punishment.
The judge sentenced the embezzler to ten years in prison, along with a hefty fine.
Penalty
Penal retribution; punishment for crime or offense; the suffering in person or property which is annexed by law or judicial decision to the commission of a crime, offense, or trespass.
Death is the penalty imposed.
Sentence
To decree, announce, or pass as a sentence.
Penalty
The suffering, or the sum to be forfeited, to which a person subjects himself by covenant or agreement, in case of nonfulfillment of stipulations; forfeiture; fine.
The penalty and forfeit of my bond.
Sentence
(obsolete) To utter sententiously.
Penalty
A handicap.
Sentence
Sense; meaning; significance.
Tales of best sentence and most solace.
The discourse itself, voluble enough, and full of sentence.
Penalty
The act of punishing
Sentence
An opinion; a decision; a determination; a judgment, especially one of an unfavorable nature.
My sentence is for open war.
That by them [Luther's works] we may pass sentence upon his doctrines.
Penalty
A payment required for not fulfilling a contract
Sentence
A philosophical or theological opinion; a dogma; as, Summary of the Sentences; Book of the Sentences.
Penalty
The disadvantage or painful consequences of an action or condition;
Neglected his health and paid the penalty
Sentence
In civil and admiralty law, the judgment of a court pronounced in a cause; in criminal and ecclesiastical courts, a judgment passed on a criminal by a court or judge; condemnation pronounced by a judicial tribunal; doom. In common law, the term is exclusively used to denote the judgment in criminal cases.
Received the sentence of the law.
Penalty
(games) a handicap or disadvantage that is imposed on a competitor (or a team) for an infraction of the rules of the game
Sentence
A short saying, usually containing moral instruction; a maxim; an axiom; a saw.
Sentence
A combination of words which is complete as expressing a thought, and in writing is marked at the close by a period, or full point. See Proposition, 4.
He fills, he bounds, connects, and equals all.
A king . . . understanding dark sentences.
Sentence
To pass or pronounce judgment upon; to doom; to condemn to punishment; to prescribe the punishment of.
Nature herself is sentenced in your doom.
Sentence
To decree or announce as a sentence.
Sentence
To utter sententiously.
Sentence
A string of words satisfying the grammatical rules of a language;
He always spoke in grammatical sentences
Sentence
(criminal law) a final judgment of guilty in a criminal case and the punishment that is imposed;
The conviction came as no surprise
Sentence
The period of time a prisoner is imprisoned;
He served a prison term of 15 months
His sentence was 5 to 10 years
He is doing time in the county jail
Sentence
Pronounce a sentence on (somebody) in a court of law;
He was condemned to ten years in prison
Common Curiosities
Can a penalty be imposed without a court decision?
Yes, penalties can be imposed by regulatory bodies, sports organizations, or as part of contractual agreements without a formal court decision.
What are the purposes of sentences and penalties?
Both aim to punish and deter wrongdoing, but sentences also focus on rehabilitation and restitution within the criminal justice system.
Is a fine considered a sentence or a penalty?
A fine can be both a sentence, when imposed by a court for a crime, and a penalty in broader contexts like civil disputes or regulatory infractions.
What is a penalty?
A penalty is a general term for any punishment imposed for wrongdoing, applicable across various contexts including law, sports, and contracts.
Do penalties always follow legal infractions?
While penalties often follow legal infractions, they can also result from violations of rules or agreements outside the legal system.
What is a sentence?
A sentence is a punishment imposed by a court on someone convicted of a crime, detailing the type and duration of punishment.
How does a sentence differ from a penalty?
A sentence is a specific type of penalty determined by a court in the context of criminal law, while penalties can be broader and apply to various forms of misconduct.
How are sentences determined?
Sentences are determined by judges based on legal statutes, precedents, and considerations like the nature of the crime and mitigating factors.
What factors influence the type of penalty imposed?
Factors include the nature of the wrongdoing, predefined rules or laws, the context of the violation, and the discretion of the imposing body.
How does the public perception of sentences and penalties differ?
Public perception can vary, with sentences often seen as a formal outcome of criminal justice proceedings and penalties viewed in a broader context of rule enforcement.
Are penalties always financial?
No, penalties can include various forms of punishment such as fines, suspension, community service, or the revocation of licenses.
What role does deterrence play in imposing sentences and penalties?
Deterrence is a key objective, aiming to prevent the individual and others from committing similar offenses in the future.
Can the same action lead to both a sentence and a penalty?
Yes, certain actions can result in criminal sentences and additional penalties, such as a civil lawsuit or administrative sanctions.
Can a sentence be appealed?
Yes, sentences can be appealed in higher courts if the convicted individual believes there has been a legal error in the trial process.
Are penalties effective in preventing future misconduct?
The effectiveness of penalties in preventing misconduct depends on various factors, including the severity of the punishment and the individual's circumstances.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
