When sentences run consecutively, defendants have to finish serving the sentence for one offense before they start serving the sentence for any other offense.

Why do 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.

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.