Determinate sentencing gives the defendant a set amount of time in prison. For example, a determinate sentence would be 5 years of jail time. By contrast indeterminate sentencing hands down a range of time such as “25 to life.” Defendants sentenced to an indeterminate period must serve the minimum period of time but after that period a parole board will evaluate if the defendant should be released. Both determinate and indeterminate sentences can be reduced by mitigating factors such as good behavior or work release.