Court Fees

• The courts often assess the offender court fees, which vary on a case-by-case basis. Restitution goes directly to the victim in the case. The courts may impose mandatory or discretionary fines. For probation cases, the courts also order a probation service fee. This fee helps pay the expenses of the probation department. A victim compensation fund fee goes to help crime victims.
  
  

Community Service

• Some types of crimes, such as drug offenses, include mandatory community service hours. The offender will need to work at a pre-approved agency. Some judges direct offenders to complete work order hours as a restorative measure, and a way for the offender to give back to the community.
  
  

Counseling

• Often, the offender needs some type of treatment due to the issues that brought her before the court. Generally, substance abuse issues top the list of counseling needs. The courts will direct the offender to support groups, outpatient counseling with education classes or residential treatment. Other types of counseling she may attend include sex offender treatment, anger management classes, life skills, domestic violence or white collar classes.
  
  

Probation

• The courts may sentence an offender to probation in lieu of sending him to prison. The offender must follow specific probation terms and conditions, which include court fees, reporting instructions, counseling, community service hours, remaining drug-free and having no contact with the victim in the case or with other criminals. A probation officer usually monitors the offender's compliance with the probation requirements.
  
  

Custody

• Prior to sentencing, the defendant may be in custody, depending on the severity of the crime and her previous criminal record. Inmates will usually be housed in jail before sentencing. Jail also houses offenders as a final disposition for misdemeanor offenses, generally for less than a year. Prison is reserved for those who will serve sentences longer than one year.