prison sentence
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prison sentence
A legal punishment that consists of depriving a convicted person of their freedom for a certain period of time, usually by placing them in prison.
Wegen des Diebstahls wurde er zu einer Freiheitsstrafe von zwei Jahren verurteilt.
Because of the theft, he was sentenced to a prison sentence of two years.
The word is a compound made up of 'die Freiheit' (freedom), the linking -s, and 'die Strafe' (punishment). So it literally means a punishment in which you lose your freedom.
Eine Freiheitsstrafe ist die schwerste Form der Bestrafung im deutschen Rechtssystem.
A prison sentence is the most severe form of punishment in the German legal system.
When saying what someone is sentenced to, you use the preposition 'zu' followed by the dative. The length of the sentence is added with 'von' or directly with the time expression.
Der Angeklagte wurde zu einer Freiheitsstrafe von drei Jahren verurteilt.
The defendant was sentenced to a prison sentence of three years.
A very important and common combination is 'Freiheitsstrafe auf Bewährung' (suspended prison sentence). This means the person does not have to go to prison if they do not commit any new crimes within a certain period of time.
Da es seine erste Straftat war, erhielt er eine Freiheitsstrafe auf Bewährung.
Since it was his first offense, he received a suspended prison sentence.
prison
'das Gefängnis' and 'die Freiheitsstrafe' are closely related because a prison sentence is usually served in prison. However, 'Gefängnis' mainly refers to the place, and sometimes also to the punishment in general. 'Freiheitsstrafe' more precisely means the punishment itself, imposed by a court. Learners may confuse the words because in everyday language people say: 'Er muss ins Gefängnis' (he has to go to prison). In strict legal terms, this often means: he receives a 'Freiheitsstrafe' (prison sentence). For the building, 'Gefängnis' fits; for the judgment and the length of the sentence, 'Freiheitsstrafe' fits better.
Das Gericht verhängte eine Freiheitsstrafe von drei Jahren.
The court imposed a prison sentence of three years.
Vor dem Gefängnis warteten mehrere Reporter.
Several reporters were waiting in front of the prison.