It means you were convicted of a felony offense and received a 5 year sentence. One year of which will have to be served behind bars, and the other 4 years suspended.
A suspended sentence is a sentence that is held in abeyance and is not activated. When a suspended sentence is revoked that sentence is then activate. Example: Sentence is 10 years with 7 years suspended. A person would only do 3 years. There is usually conditions set by the court to keep this sentence suspended. If those conditions are not met, the judge can then revoke the suspended sentence and the defendant would have to complete the full 10 years.
Example: If you were found guilty and sentenced to either a fine or time in jail BUT the judge suspended the sentence.... it usually is suspended based on something that the judge wants from you in return (e.g: drive with no tickets for the nest 3 years - or - live your life with no police involvement for the next 2 years - or - something similar to that). If you fail to do these things the judge is requesting of you (in return for the suspended sentence), he could re-impose the previously suspended sentence and have you serve it as punishment.
How was the sentence imposed? (i.e.- a 2 year sentence - serve 60 days with the remainder suspended? -OR- the ENTIRE 2 years sentence suspended?) It all depends upon the wording of the judge's decision.
On a 'suspended" sentence you don't "serve" ANY time incarcerated. There may (and probably will) be a period of probation, both supervised and un-supervised, which could run for the entire 11 years. All depends on the sentencing judge and his decision.
The sentencing judge who gave you probation in the first place will have the final word. They may send you inside to serve the entire remainder of your original sentence, or only part of it. It is totally the judge's call.
A 10 year sentence with 7 years suspended means that the individual would serve 3 years in prison immediately, and the remaining 7 years would not be served unless the individual violates the terms of their probation during the suspended period. If no violations occur during the suspended period, the individual may avoid serving the full 10 years in prison.
the judge sentenced him to 5 years of jail
There are many ways a judge can impose a sentence. One example is "I sentence you to ten years in prison."
This means that the individual will serve one year in prison, and the remaining three years of their sentence will be suspended, pending completion of probation. If they successfully complete probation, they may not have to serve the remaining three years in prison.
Probation is used to give a person a chance to not go to jail. A violation of the probation means that the judge can impose a new sentence that is likely to include jail or prison.
It depends on the sentence give to you by a judge.
Marvin Gaye Sr. was given a six-year suspended sentence and five years probation.