Consecutive sentences are served one after the other, while concurrent sentences are served at the same time. In terms of length, consecutive sentences are usually longer than concurrent ones.
Consecutive sentences
Consecutive sentences are served one after the other, with no overlap. This means that if someone is sentenced to two years in prison, they will serve those two years back-to-back. There is no credit for time served on a consecutive sentence.
Concurrent sentences
Concurrent sentences, on the other hand, are served at the same time. So if someone is sentenced to two concurrent five-year terms, they will serve those five years concurrently, and their total sentence will be five years. In some cases, people can serve multiple concurrent sentences simultaneously.
Consecutive Vs. Concurrent sentences
Consecutive sentences are served one after the other, with no break in between. This means that if someone is convicted of multiple crimes, they will serve each sentence one after the other. For example, if someone is sentenced to two years for one crime and three years for another, they will serve a total of five years – two years for the first crime, followed by three years for the second.
Concurrent sentences, on the other hand, are served at the same time. This means that if someone is sentenced to two years and three years concurrently, they will only serve a total of three years. In this instance, both sentences are being served simultaneously, rather than one after the other.
The main difference between consecutive and concurrent sentences is how they are served. Consecutive sentences are served one after the other, while concurrent sentences are served at the same time.
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