Which of the following best describes a split sentence?

A split sentence is best described as a scenario where an offender serves time in prison followed by a period of probation. This approach allows the court to impose a combination of incarceration and supervision, recognizing that while prison time may be necessary as a punishment, there is also an opportunity for rehabilitation under probation.

Following prison time, the individual is typically released with conditions that they must adhere to during their probation period, thus enabling them to reintegrate into society while still under the oversight of the judicial system. This method can be effective in reducing recidivism rates by providing support and monitoring during the transition from incarceration back into the community.

The other options do not accurately reflect what a split sentence entails. Immediate probation without prison time would not involve any incarceration, probation for several offenses served simultaneously suggests a different arrangement where probation overlaps rather than a sequential approach, and a single cumulative sentence refers to a different judicial concept where multiple offenses may be consolidated into one sentence without indicating any specific division between incarceration and probation.