A custodial sentence is
a court-ordered period of imprisonment or confinement in a closed institution as punishment for a crime. The purpose of a custodial sentence is to deter, incapacitate, or rehabilitate the offender.
Custodial sentences are reserved for the most serious offenses, and the length of the sentence depends on the crime committed. Some types of custodial sentences include:
- Determinate sentence: A set period of imprisonment
- Suspended sentence: A type of prison sentence
- Extended sentence: A type of prison sentence
- Life sentence: A type of prison sentence
In some cases, a prisoner may serve the first half of their sentence in custody and the second half on license. If the prisoner breaks the conditions of their license, they can be recalled to prison