What is a consecutive sentence?

A consecutive sentence refers to a situation where multiple sentences are served one after the other, rather than simultaneously. This means that if an individual is convicted of multiple charges, instead of serving the time for these charges at the same time (which would be termed as concurrent sentences), the individual would complete the first sentence in its entirety before beginning to serve the next one.

This approach is often applied in the criminal justice system when a judge determines that the offenses warrant separate punishment rather than allowing the convicted individual to serve the time for all offenses concurrently. The structure of consecutive sentences can lead to a longer overall time spent in incarceration compared to concurrent sentences.

The distinction made by the other options revolves around different sentencing structures. Sentencing served at the same time would refer to concurrent sentences, while discussions of probationary periods and the length of sentences do not define the fundamental concept of how sentences are administered in a consecutive manner. Therefore, the focus should be on the sequential nature of how these sentences are served, which is precisely what a consecutive sentence entails.