Peter Helped me with a case these last few months. Always explained everything in depth. Can’t say enough good things about how it went.
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You can’t go wrong with [Bruntrager & Billings P.C.]. Don’t just trust my word for it though. See for yourself or better yet, ask other attorneys who they would personally use. I’m sure you’d hear not just one, but several of [their] names.
Peter Helped me with a case these last few months. Always explained everything in depth. Can’t say enough good things about how it went.
I’ve dealt with Charlie and he is wonderful. VERY knowledgeable of the law. I would definitely recommend if you are facing hardship.
You can’t go wrong with any of them. Don’t just trust my word for it though. See for yourself or better yet, ask other attorneys who they would personally use. I’m sure you’d hear not just one, but several of the names above.
“I find the law firm of Bruntrager & Billings, P.C. to be totally professional, compassionate and caring. They do their homework to get results. Their whole staff is there with you all the way. Charles W. Billings was there with us from day one working the case and keeping us informed every step of the way. I have total confidence and trust with him as our attorney and now think of him as a friend. This is a wonderful family law firm and would highly recommend them to anyone.”
In Missouri criminal courts, you may hear several different legal terms that you may not understand. One common term that might be the source of confusion is “SIS,” an abbreviation used throughout Missouri court records and by law enforcement, which stands for “suspended imposition of sentence.”
In short, SIS probation is a common type of disposition that Missouri courts use in criminal cases, generally reached after a guilty plea, and it is one of the first things a defense attorney will discuss when talking through your options.
An SIS is different from a suspended execution of sentence (SES), which is a type of probation for more serious felony offenses and does result in a conviction on your record.
An SIS in court starts with a simple idea: when a judge agrees to an SIS, they are suspending the issuance of a specific sentence for an offense for a specified period of time. During that time, you will be on probation with certain conditions. If you abide by all conditions and complete your period of probation successfully, the court will close the file, and you will not have a criminal conviction on your record.
Many defendants in the St. Louis area agree to plead guilty in exchange for an SIS instead of a jail sentence, and it is especially common in first-time DWI and DUI cases handled in Missouri’s municipal and associate circuit courts.
SIS probation can have many different terms and conditions, which can vary significantly from case to case. Some common conditions may include:
If you are accused of violating any terms of your probation, the judge may decide to completely revoke your SIS probation. In this case, the judge would have the opportunity to issue any sentence in the possible range for your offense. In this situation, a criminal defense lawyer can argue for lesser penalties than revocation for a probation violation that may allow you to continue with your SIS.
The immediate benefit of an SIS is that it allows you to serve probation in the community instead of facing a possible jail sentence. However, there are many lasting benefits, as well. Having a criminal conviction on your record can cause many issues with your employment, housing, education, professional licenses, eligibility for benefits, and more.
Under Missouri law, an SIS is not a conviction, since no sentence is ever pronounced as long as you complete probation successfully. This is a foundational piece of Missouri SIS probation that surprises a lot of first-time defendants. On job applications, you can honestly answer that you have not been convicted of the crime, even though you did plead guilty. It is important to realize that an SIS can still have immigration consequences and other effects on your life, but generally less than the impact of a criminal conviction.
Once your case is closed, if you later want to explore whether your record can be sealed further, our overview of Missouri expungement law covers how that separate process works for eligible offenses.
So what does SIS mean in court, exactly, and what does SIS stand for in law enforcement records? SIS stands for suspended imposition of sentence. In practical terms, it means the judge has accepted your guilty plea but has not entered a sentence or a judgment of conviction. As long as you complete probation without violations, that sentence is never imposed, and the case closes without a conviction on your record.
SIS probation in Missouri, sometimes shortened to MO SIS, is a period of supervised probation that follows a guilty plea when the judge suspends imposition of sentence rather than entering a conviction. Missouri SIS probation typically includes conditions such as regular check-ins, fines, restitution, and staying out of further legal trouble. Successfully finishing that period is what allows the case to close without a conviction.
An SIS suspends the entry of any sentence at all, so successful completion of probation leaves you without a conviction. An SES, or suspended execution of sentence, is different: the judge actually pronounces a sentence and enters a conviction, then suspends the execution of that sentence in favor of probation. With an SES, the conviction exists on your record from the start, even though you may avoid serving time as long as you stay compliant with probation.
This is one of the most misunderstood parts of an SIS, so it deserves a direct answer. While your case is open and you are actively on probation, a standard Missouri criminal background check can show that you pled guilty and are on probation with an SIS, since Missouri’s criminal records system treats an active SIS as an open record during that period.
Once you successfully complete probation and the court closes your file, the case becomes a closed record and generally will not appear on standard background checks run by most employers or landlords. It is worth knowing that some private background check companies gather and retain information independently, so a closed SIS case can occasionally still surface through those sources even after your court file has closed.
Yes, an SIS is commonly used for certain traffic offenses in Missouri, including some first-time DWI charges, and this outcome is sometimes referred to informally as an SIS ticket. Whether a particular traffic charge qualifies depends on the offense, the court, and the facts of your case, which is part of why it is worth discussing traffic and DWI charges with an attorney before entering a plea. Our DWI and traffic defense page has more on how these charges are typically handled in the St. Louis area.
An SIS is not automatic, and prosecutors are not required to offer one. Whether it is on the table often depends on your criminal history, the specific charge, and how the case is negotiated. For a quick sis probation meaning to keep in mind throughout this process: it is a guilty plea paired with a chance to avoid a conviction, not a guarantee of one. An experienced criminal defense attorney can advocate for an SIS as part of a plea agreement and help you understand the probation terms you would be agreeing to before you plead guilty.
While probation conditions may be strict, an SIS can be worth it to avoid jail time and prevent the long-term consequences of a conviction. At Bruntrager & Billings, P.C., we can seek the best possible outcome in your specific case, including an SIS as part of a plea deal, and help you fully weigh your options. Call 314-646-0066 or contact us online today.
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