2025 Session Last amended: 2024 session

§ 609.135 — Stay of Imposition or Execution of Sentence

Plain-Language Summary

Allows Minnesota courts to stay (suspend) a prison sentence and place a defendant on probation instead. The court can impose conditions like community service, treatment, electronic monitoring, restitution, and fines. Does not apply when life imprisonment or a mandatory minimum sentence is required.

Practical Notes
A stayed sentence is one of the most common outcomes in Minnesota criminal cases. Instead of going to prison, the defendant serves probation with conditions. If probation is violated, the court can revoke the stay and send the person to prison for the original sentence. This is the legal basis for plea deals where a defendant avoids incarceration. Understanding how stays work is important for anyone facing criminal charges or negotiating a plea agreement.