18 U.S.C. § 3584: Multiple sentences of…

Summary

Courts can make more than one prison term run at the same time (concurrent) or one after the other (consecutive). If sentences are given at the same time, they run together unless the judge or law says they must run one after the other. If a new sentence is given while an older sentence is still running, it runs one after the other unless the judge orders they run together. A sentence for an attempt cannot run after the crime that was its only goal. Judges must think about the factors listed in section 3553(a) (the things a judge should weigh when picking a sentence). For prison administration, multiple sentences are treated as one combined term.

Title 18, §3584

Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Imposition of Concurrent or Consecutive Terms.—

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)Factors To Be Considered in Imposing Concurrent or Consecutive Terms.—

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)Treatment of Multiple Sentence as an Aggregate.—

Multiple terms of imprisonment ordered to run consecutively or concurrently shall be treated for administrative purposes as a single, aggregate term of imprisonment.

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.

§3584 Multiple Sentences of Imprisonment

Summary

Title 18, §3584

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Citations & Metadata