indeterminate sentence

noun

, Criminal Law.

1. a penalty, imposed by a court, that has relatively wide limits or no limits, as one of imprisonment for one to ten years.

indeterminate sentence

noun

1. law a prison sentence the length of which depends on the prisoner's conduct

Word History and Origins

Origin of indeterminate sentence¹

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

The first of these is the indeterminate sentence now generally in practice in the United States.

From Project Gutenberg

On a charge of shoplifting she was given an indeterminate sentence of one to ten years in the penitentiary at Joliet.

From Project Gutenberg

From every point of view the indeterminate sentence in the case of those sent to reformatories appears the most reasonable.

From Project Gutenberg

If but a small degree of criminality exist, the safest adjustment of punishment is to be found in the indeterminate sentence.

From Project Gutenberg

That the indeterminate sentence furnishes a powerful motive for reformation is shown daily in this institution.

From Project Gutenberg