What is an 'SIS'? Is It the Same Thing as a Reduced Charge?

An SIS stands for ‘Suspended Imposition of Sentence.’ Instead of you serving out the statutorily prescribed sentence, the sentence is “suspended.” The court is often willing to provide such a sentence instead of sending you to jail for the crime you have been charged with.

Let’s take a look at a specific example: suppose you are charged with shoplifting in St. Louis (in which the value of the goods allegedly stolen was less than $500). A lot of municipalities around St. Louis are unwilling to give out a recommendation for something like that (when the prosecutor gives the court a recommendation, it is usually reduces the current charge to some lesser infraction so that it will not show up on your record at all). Instead, your St. Louis criminal defense attorney can work out another deal with the prosecutor that involves an SIS.

So how does the SIS work? Let’s keep the same example of St. Louis shoplifting described above. A basic stealing charge is a Class A Misdemeanor (so long as the value of the goods stolen was less than $500). This type of charge can come with a potential jail sentence of up to one (1) year of jail and a $1,000 fine. So if the prosecutor suggests to the judge that an SIS be handed down on the charge, that means that the potential sentence described (of jail time) will be suspended (in other words, you will not have to serve any time in lock-up). Instead, the court will order that you be placed on probation (for a period of one to two years). If during that period of time you stay out of trouble (in other words, you do not get caught stealing or breaking any other crimes for one to two years), there will be no conviction at the end of the probation (and the charge will drop off altogether).

As you can see, the SIS is not the worst thing in the world. To be sure, it is better if your attorney can work out a recommendation with the prosecutor to the charges reduced from the outset. But there are some offenses for which the court would rather dole out something a little more stiff.

The affordable St. Louis criminal defense attorneys at The Bankruptcy Company, have been helping people with their misdemeanor charges for over ten (10) years. Our goal is to make sure that the charges leveled against you do not stay on your permanent record, and do any lasting damage. And we want to do all of this at an affordable price. The fees for a typical misdemeanor case start at $450. But the initial consultation to discuss your legal issues is free of charge. So contact us today!!

We have two main locations: in the Central West End of St. Louis, at 1 North Taylor (on the corner of Taylor and Laclede), 63108; and in the Twin Cities of Festus / Crystal City, at 1000 Truman Blvd (Highway 61/67), 63019. The initial consultation is free of charge. So contact us today to learn more!!