Why do jail sentences run concurrently?

The purpose of a concurrent sentence is to allow the defendant to serve all of their sentences at the same time. So, if Joe the defendant has been sentenced to five years in prison for burglary, and also ten years in prison for aggravated assault, his total concurrent sentence would equal ten years in prison.

How long is a concurrent life sentence?

A consecutive life sentence will help to ensure that a dangerous criminal remains behind bars. In most cases, life imprisonment means that a criminal must serve between fifteen to twenty years of their sentence before they will be considered for parole.

Can you serve multiple sentences concurrently?

California’s criminal laws recognize and allow for both consecutive and concurrent sentences. Per California Rules of Court Rule 4.425(a), a sentencing court determines which type of sentence to impose after considering certain factors.

Do sentences always run concurrently?

Sentences “may” run consecutively or concurrently. This gives the judge discretion to decide this element in most cases. The default rule is concurrent sentences.

How do consecutive sentences work?

When sentences run consecutively, defendants have to finish serving the sentence for one offense before they start serving the sentence for any other offense. Some criminal statutes, however, require that the sentence for the crime in question be served consecutively to any other crime committed in the same incident.

How long is 5 consecutive sentences?

Each defendant has to live out each life they’ve been sentenced before they get parole. So if someone is sentenced to 5 life sentences that means they face 75 years before parole.

What does 3 consecutive life sentences mean?

What are three consecutive life sentences? If a person is convicted of three distinct crimes, each one deserving of a life sentence, the judge has two choices. > The judge can give the convicted criminal three concurrent life sentences. Each year served in prison subtracts a year from each sentence.

What does consecutive mean in a jail sentence?

Multiple prison terms that are to be served one after another after the defendant is convicted of the corresponding criminal offenses. Consecutive sentences are distinct from concurrent sentences, whereby convicted defendants serve for a duration equal to the length of the longest sentence.

What is an example of a consecutive sentence?

For example, if a defendant is convicted and sentenced for two six-year sentences and one three-year sentence, he/she would only serve six years under concurrent sentencing but would serve fifteen years under consecutive sentencing. Consecutive sentences can also be referred as “cumulative sentences.”

What does consecutive sentence mean?

Consecutive Sentences refers to jail sentences that must be served one after the other rather than at the same time. It is two or more sentences of jail time to be served in sequence. For example, if a defendant receives consecutive sentences of 15 years and 5 years, the total amount of jail time is 20 years.

What does concurrent sentence mean?

A concurrent sentence is a form of sentencing imposed on a criminal defendant who has been convicted of two or more crimes. In this lesson you will learn about sentencing, the difference between concurrent and consecutive sentences, and how concurrent sentences work.

What does concurrent mean in sentencing?

Concurrent Sentencing Law and Legal Definition. Concurrent sentencing allows sentences for more than one crime to be served at one time. It is a less severe penalty than consecutive sentencing. When a criminal defendant is convicted of two or more crimes, a judge sentences him/her to a certain period of time for each crime.

What is a consecutive sentence?

A consecutive sentence is a prison sentence that must be served independently of any other sentences; a convict with two consecutive sentences, for example, must serve one and then the other. This contrasts with a concurrent sentence, allowing prisoners to serve multiple sentences at once and get out earlier.