A defendant charged with committing a crime and found guilty, either by way of a jury verdict, or a plea of guilty, is sentenced by the trial judge. The sentence imposed is based upon certain criteria following state and federal sentencing guidelines. Important criteria may include the nature of the crime committed and the defendant's criminal history. Additional factors are considered by the judge as either mitigating or aggravating circumstances and may decrease or increase the severity of the sentence. For more information on sentencing, contact a qualified criminal attorney.