Which item must be entered in the docket when a judge grants deferred disposition?

• A. The defendant's occupation.
• B. The date the judge ordered the sentence to be suspended and the disposition deferred.
• C. The time of day the order was issued.
• D. The defendant's middle name.

Answer: (B)

When a judge grants deferred disposition, the most important item to enter in the docket is the date the judge ordered the sentence to be suspended and the disposition deferred. This date marks when the deferral begins and is the anchor for tracking the deferral period, any conditions, and future steps if conditions are met or violated. It creates the official record that the court will rely on to determine when the deferral ends, when a subsequent sentencing date may be set, and how probation or other conditions will be handled. Other details like the defendant’s occupation, the time of day the order was issued, or the defendant’s middle name aren’t part of the essential record for this action.