Where a court thinks that an offence is serious enough to impose imprisonment but there is good reason to suspend the sentence, it may do so on the condition that the person enters into a bond [see Sentencing Act 2017 (SA) s 96]. A sentence may be suspended because of factors relating to the defendant (such as age, ill health, or previous good character) which suggest the defendant should not immediately be imprisoned.

However, a court may not suspend:

Also, unless exceptional circumstances exist (in which case certain limitations apply), a court may not suspend the sentence if the person is being sentenced as an adult for:

See further Sentencing Act 2017 (SA) ss 96(3)(c), 96(3)(d), 96(6).

Section 96(9) of the Sentencing Act 2017 (SA) prescribes the type of offences that fall into the above categories.

serious and organised crime offences include:

specific offences against police include :

designated offences include:

Serious sexual offences include:

If a sentences is suspended the defendant is placed on a bond (promise) to be of good behaviour [s 96], prohibiting the defendant from possessing a firearm, any part of a firearm or ammunition and requiring the defendant submit to gunshot residue testing as may be reasonably required [see s 96(2)].

A defendant may also be directed to surrender any firearms, part of firearms or ammunition [s 101(1)] or be required to meet a number of other additional conditions, see Good behaviour bonds. If the bond is not breached, the defendant does not have to serve the sentence of imprisonment. However, if the bond is breached (for example where the defendant commits a further offence during the period of the bond) the defendant may be ordered to serve the suspended sentence [see s 114]. If the court is satisfied that the breach is trivial, or that there are proper grounds upon which it should be excused, the court can refrain from revoking the suspension and extend the bond, extend the time to do any community service, or otherwise revoke or vary conditions of the bond [see further s 114(3)].

If a person on probation under a suspended sentence bond complies with the bond, then, once the bond term is over, then the sentence is also completed (they can not then be sent to gaol, as they have served their sentence by complying with the bond) [s 96(8)].