608                               Laws of Maryland                      [Ch. 181

nizance for appearance, or matters relating to the residence or con-
duct of the convicts as may be deemed proper; and if the convict is a
minor, the courts may also make such orders as to his detention in any
care or custody as may be deemed proper. In Prince George's County,
the courts [, including the People's Court] may also and they are
hereby empowered to impose such sentences as may be provided by
law with respect to the offense upon which an accused has been con-
victed and cause the convict to serve such sentence by attendance at
the county jail where the sentence is to be performed between the
hours of 6:00 p.m. Friday and 6:00 p.m. Sunday, each such period
to constitute two days of the sentence imposed, provided however the
offense leading to such conviction shall permit confinement in the
county jail and the total sentence imposed by the judge shall not
exceed thirty (30) days.

§ 641. Supplemental provisions as to suspension of sentence and
probation by circuit courts and Criminal Court of Balti-
more [City].

The circuit courts of the several counties in this State and the Crimi-
nal Court of Baltimore [City], before conviction of any person
accused of crime with the written consent of the person so accused,
including persons appealing from convictions before [trial magis-
trates or before the Municipal Court of Baltimore City] the District
Court, whether a minor or an adult, and after conviction or after a
plea of guilty or nolo contendere, without such consent, are em-
powered, during the term of court in which such consent, conviction
or plea is had, to:

(1)    Suspend the imposition of sentence; or

(2)    Place such person on probation without finding a verdict; and

(3)    Make such conditions of suspension of sentence and proba-
tion m AS the court may deem proper.

§ 643. When penalty less than statutory minimum may be im-
posed.

In all cases where the law prescribing a punishment for crime fixes
a maximum and a minimum penalty therefor, the judge of the Crimi-
nal Court of Baltimore and the several judges of the circuit courts
of the counties and of the District Court of Maryland may, in lieu of
the minimum penalty so prescribed, impose a less penalty of the same
character; provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall be
construed as affecting any maximum penalty fixed by law, or the
punishment for any crime where the law provides one and only one
penalty.

§ 644. Road work by prisoners.

On the order in writing of the board of county commissioners of
any county it shall be the duty of the sheriff or other officer having
charge of such prisoners of that county to send, under a competent
guard, such number of able-bodied male prisoners in the county jail
undergoing punishment under sentence of a court [or justice of the
peace], as the county may require, to work on any road in said county,
or in any quarry, pit or yard, in preparing materials for use on the
county roads; the county commissioners are hereby required to reim-