Rule 26.7 Consecutive or Concurrent Sentences

When a judge sentences someone who has more than one sentence to serve, the judge gets to decide how those sentences fit together. The judge can order the new sentence to be served at the same time as another sentence (concurrently), or to start only after the other sentence ends (consecutively). This applies whether the other sentence was handed down earlier or is being given at the same time as the new one.

If a judge doesn't say how the sentences should be served, the law fills in the gap. Sentences will automatically run at the same time as each other, not back to back. So if you're facing multiple sentences and the paperwork doesn't clearly spell out "consecutive," you can expect the time to be served concurrently.

This matters a lot for how much time someone actually spends behind bars. Concurrent sentences mean less total time served, since they overlap. Consecutive sentences add up one after another, meaning more total time. Anyone dealing with multiple charges or sentences should pay close attention to what the judge actually orders, since that decision has a big impact on the real length of time served.