Editor, Gazette-Journal: I am grateful for the opportunity to respond to the questions posed by Mr. Hill in last week’s paper, “Why all the suspended sentences?” The questions raised reflect some of the most widely held misconceptions about the criminal justice system. It’s important that citizens are aware that not all sentences are reached by agreement and that many sentences are decided by a judge after arguments are made by prosecution and defense. First and foremost, every court in the Commonwealth, from Abingdon to Virginia Beach, utilizes suspended periods of incarceration as one piece of an offender’s sentence. There are a variety of terms courts can condition suspended time upon—to include being of good behavior, having no contact with victims, paying restitution, complying with the rules set by a probation officer, mental health treatment, completing anger management classes, remaining drug and alcohol free, etc. The suspended jail time rem...