Concurrent and consecutive sentences

Sentences for more than one offence can be served (carried out) concurrently or consecutively.

Concurrent sentences are served at the same time. Consecutive sentences are served one after the other - for example, a six-month sentence followed by a three-month sentence.

The judge (or magistrate) tells you what type of sentence you get and how it must be served.

Suspended prison sentences

If you have a suspended sentence you can still be sent to prison

If you get a ‘suspended’ prison sentence you don’t go to prison immediately, but serve your sentence in the community. You have to meet certain conditions, which could include:

· having to stay away from a certain place or person - for example, the victim of your crime

· doing unpaid work - called ‘Community Payback’

If you break any conditions, or commit another crime, you will go to prison to serve your sentence unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Prison sentences of a fixed length of time – ‘determinate’ sentences

A ‘determinate’ sentence is a prison sentence of a fixed length of time.

If your sentence is for 12 months or more

If your prison sentence is for 12 months or more, the first half of the sentence is spent in prison. The second half of your sentence is spent in the community ‘on licence’.

Being on licence means you have to meet certain conditions. This could include having to stay away from the victim of your crime.

If you break any conditions, or commit another crime, it’s possible you could go back to prison to serve your sentence.

If you’re on licence you are supervised (managed) by the Probation Service.

If your sentence is under 12 months

If your sentence is under 12 months, you are released automatically half-way through.

You are not supervised (managed) by the Probation Service but can still be sent back to prison – for example, if you commit another crime.

Prison sentences with no fixed length of time – ‘indeterminate’ sentences

The Parole Board is responsible for the release of offenders from prison

A prison sentence that doesn’t have a fixed length of time is called an ‘indeterminate’ sentence. This means you:

· have no automatic right to be released at a set date

· have to spend a minimum amount of time in prison (called a ‘tariff’) before you can be considered for release

The Parole Board is responsible for the release of offenders from prison.

Indeterminate sentences are given if a court thinks an offender is a danger to the public. They are usually given for violent or sexual offences.