§ 144.720 Judge’s power to suspend execution of sentence or grant probation prior to commitment

A judge still has full power to suspend a sentence or put someone on probation instead of sending them straight to prison or jail. This rule simply confirms that all the other sentencing laws listed do not take away that power. In other words, none of those related laws can be read to limit what a judge is already allowed to do when it comes to suspending a sentence or granting probation.

This matters because it protects a judge's ability to give someone a second chance before they are committed to serve time. Even with many detailed sentencing rules in place, this one makes clear those rules were not meant to block a judge from choosing probation or suspending part of a sentence when they decide it fits the case.