The main purpose of a criminal sentence is to protect society from further crime by giving offenders a chance to learn from their mistakes, develop socially responsible behaviour and be able to live a crime-free life after their release from prison.

UNESCO: M��nster Prison Library

On June 15th, Britain, Sierra Leone's former colonial power and still its main source of foreign aid, agreed to let the former Liberian president, if convicted, serve his prison sentence in the United Kingdom, thereby removing the main obstacle blocking his transfer and trial.

ECONOMIST: Charles Taylor flies to The Hague

Its main leader, Abimael Guzman, is serving a life sentence.

BBC: NEWS | Americas | Shining Path leader offers truce

The prosecutors were calling for a ten-month suspended prison sentence for Mr Trichet but, of course, the main penalty he would have suffered would be to forfeit his job at the ECB.

ECONOMIST: Trichet in the clear | The

Nevertheless, at a time when Main Street employees (and the unemployed) are occupying Wall Street, the sentence seems to be too light.

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Mr. Zhang's lighter sentence was also expected because prosecutors said he was an accomplice, and Ms. Gu the main culprit, according observers during the trial.

WSJ: With China Trial Over, Focus Turns to Fate of Official