What does ‘commuted to time served’ mean? Young Thug's total sentence terms explained in the wake of his release 

On October 31, rapper Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffrey Lamar Williams, entered a non-negotiated plea deal connected to his YSL RICO case. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker sentenced him to 40 years.

However, he later received a 5-year prison sentence commuted to time served, 15 years on probation, and a backloaded 20-year sentence in case he violated his probation. He was also ordered to stay away from his hometown Atlanta’s metro region for the first 10 years of his probation, with the exception of returning to the city to make a live anti-gang/ anti-violence presentation to kids in the community several times a year.

The term ‘commuted to time served’ refers to a sentence that has been reduced to the amount of prison time the defendant has already served, during or before the ongoing trial.

Thus, in this case, it means that Young Thug is now free to go home as he has spent a couple of years behind bars.

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Exploring further the meaning of commuted sentence with respect to time served amid Young Thug’s plea deal

A ‘commuted’ sentence means a reduction in the sentence originally imposed after a criminal conviction. For instance, if a defendant received an initial sentence of 10 years, it could be commuted to a 5-year sentence or a death penalty can be commuted to life in prison.

Meanwhile, the expression ‘time served’ means the span a defendant has already spent in remand awaiting trial or a guilty plea. So, when a judge sentences a person to ‘commuted to time served,’ after giving a guilty verdict, it means that the defendant will be let go as he has already served the jail time between the time of his arrest and conviction.

A commuted sentence is often done for a plethora of reasons, including good behavior, old age, terminal illness, and more. It is noteworthy that a commuted sentence is not the same as a pardon, as the latter means full forgiveness for a crime, while the former sticks with the conviction while lessening the original sentence.

Notably, a commuted sentence, much like a pardon, doesn’t depend upon the judicial or legislative branch of the state, but rather lies in the hands of the executive, such as the Governor or the President. Exceptions include treason or political impeachment, in which case commuted sentences are invalid.

Most commuted sentences are conditional, which are often decided keeping in mind the legal and constitutional sides, and unlike pardons, do not require the consent of the defendant. In case, the conditions of a commuted sentence are violated, it can be declared as being null and void, with the risk that the defendant is sent back to serve his/ her original sentence. A commuted sentence can also be revoked if it is based on false information or inaccurate facts.

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All you need to know about Young Thug’s sentencing

Young Thug was arrested and indicted by a grand jury in May 2022 along with 27 members of the record label YSL and was charged with 56 counts of illegal substance (drug) trafficking, racketeering, firearm possession, and violating the Georgia RICO Act, among others. Since then, he was held without bail at the Fulton County Jail on remand awaiting trial, which began in November 2023.

Originally, the Atlanta rapper was sentenced to 120 years in prison. However, the defense and the prosecution entered a plea deal after they reached an impasse during negotiations. When a deal acceptable to both parties could not be made, the sentencing is left to the court’s discretion.

On Thursday, the state requested a 45-year sentence, with 25 years to be served behind bars and the rest on probation. But, shortly before the court hearing, Young Thug pled guilty to six of the existing eight charges against him, alongside pleading no contest to the racketeering conspiracy charge and a single felony count of being a street gang leader.

In the wake of this, Judge Whitaker sentenced Young Thug to 40 years including 5 years commuted to time served in prison, 15 years on probation, and a backloaded 20-year sentence, if he violated his probation.

Additionally, Young Thug would need to return to Atlanta multiple times per year to serve the community and its children by participating in anti-gang and anti-violence presentations. He was also ordered to maintain complete distance from all suspected gang members, activities, co-defendants, and alleged victims.

Jeffrey Lamar Williams would also need to submit random drug tests, and abstain from possession of a firearm, but is permitted to make foreign and domestic trips for business purposes, as long as his probation guidelines aren’t violated.