A Prisoner's Sentence is a legal TERM used to describe the punishment given to someone who has been convicted of a crime. It is usually a combination of fines, jail time, probation, or community service. The TERM is derived from the Latin phrase 'poena captivitatis, ' which translates to 'punishment of captivity.' A Prisoner's Sentence is meant to be a deterrent to crime and to ensure that justice is served.