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Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73not60

§3584 Multiple Sentences of Imprisonment

Title 18 › Part II— CRIMINAL PROCEDURE › Chapter 227— SENTENCES › Subchapter D— IMPRISONMENT › § 3584

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

When a person gets more than one jail sentence at once, or gets a new sentence while still serving one, the sentences can run at the same time (concurrent) or one after the other (consecutive). A sentence for an attempt cannot run one after the other with a sentence for the only crime the attempt was trying to commit. If sentences are given at the same time, they run together unless the judge or the law orders them to run one after the other. If sentences are given at different times, they run one after the other unless the judge orders them to run together. The judge must consider the factors listed in section 3553(a) for each offense when deciding. For prison purposes, multiple ordered sentences are treated as one combined total sentence.

Full Legal Text

Title 18, §3584

Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)If multiple terms of imprisonment are imposed on a defendant at the same time, or if a term of imprisonment is imposed on a defendant who is already subject to an undischarged term of imprisonment, the terms may run concurrently or consecutively, except that the terms may not run consecutively for an attempt and for another offense that was the sole objective of the attempt. Multiple terms of imprisonment imposed at the same time run concurrently unless the court orders or the statute mandates that the terms are to run consecutively. Multiple terms of imprisonment imposed at different times run consecutively unless the court orders that the terms are to run concurrently.
(b)The court, in determining whether the terms imposed are to be ordered to run concurrently or consecutively, shall consider, as to each offense for which a term of imprisonment is being imposed, the factors set forth in section 3553(a).
(c)Multiple terms of imprisonment ordered to run consecutively or concurrently shall be treated for administrative purposes as a single, aggregate term of imprisonment.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective Nov. 1, 1987, and applicable only to offenses committed after the taking effect of this section, see section 235(a)(1) of Pub. L. 98–473, set out as a note under section 3551 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

18 U.S.C. § 3584

Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60