Which type of sentences are served one after another?

Consecutive sentences refer to the situation in the criminal justice system where a defendant serves each sentence one after the other, rather than at the same time. For example, if an individual is convicted of two separate offenses and receives a sentence of five years for the first offense and three years for the second, with consecutive sentences, they would serve a total of eight years—finishing the five-year sentence before starting the three-year sentence.

This structure is significant as it reflects the judicial intent to impose a total punishment that reflects the severity of multiple offenses. In contrast, concurrent sentences allow the individual to serve both sentences simultaneously, reducing the total time served, while contingent and mandatory sentences refer to different conditions and authorities regarding sentencing that do not specifically address the order of sentence execution. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for anyone involved in probation and the legal process.