US President-elect Donald Trump will not spend a day in prison despite being convicted last year of 34 counts of falsifying business records which carries a jail sentence.

New York Judge Juan Merchan on Friday (December 10) sentenced the incoming president to an unconditional discharge for his involvement in covering up hush money payments to a pornography star.

Trump will still become the first convicted felon to rule the USA notwithstanding the fact that he evaded prison time.

An unconditional discharge waives legal penalties for a crime but does not nullify conviction of a person found guilty of committing a crime.

A court is allowed to impose this sentence for low grade crimes.

Merchan stressed that Trump was meted out the no jail sentence as a result of the legal protections he is entitled to as president of the United States.

Trump will still be allowed to take his oath of office on January 20 as the 47th president of the United States.

While he will neither be fined or jailed for the crimes, Trump loses his right to possess a firearm while his DNA sample will be to be provided by him to the state’s crime databank.

Trump is also barred from investing in liquor and casino businesses. He used to own three casinos but has divested years ago.

Unlike other convicted felons, Trump retains his right to vote and be elected upon. He is also free to travel to foreign countries with his diplomatic passport.

However, some countries may bar his entry due to laws imposing such restriction. Among these are Canada, Israel and the United Kingdom.