Judges give out sentences for more than one crime in Larimer County as either Concurrent Sentences or Consecutive Sentences. A common situation in Fort Collins Courts is where someone is convicted of more than one charge, after a jury trial. Following a presentence report, the judge learns more about the case and then gives its sentence. If there is more than one conviction, the judge needs to decide how to structure a Larimer County Jail or Colorado prison sentence: Concurrent Sentences or Consecutive Sentences.
What is a Concurrent Sentence in Fort Collins, Colorado, Courts?
Fort Collins Courts are required to tell the Larimer County Jail how long to keep you. A good example is the following Domestic Violence Assault case. Let’s say a guy is convicted by a jury of Assault in the Third Degree, Domestic Violence, and Criminal Mischief, Domestic Violence. If the judge thinks the circumstances are bad enough, he can give the guy six months in jail for the misdemeanor Assault conviction and 4 months for breaking his ex-girlfriend’s TV. Or, the judge may give the man a total of six months in jail by a Concurrent sentence. This involves serving the 6 months and the 4 months, at the same time.
What is a Consecutive Sentence in Larimer County Court?
Consecutive sentences are longer. They are one after the other. In the above example, the judge may feel like the man who was convicted needs to serve more than just six months. Based on the man’s prior convictions in Larimer County, he may give Consecutive Sentences. In this case, the man would be required to first serve his six-month Assault in the Third Degree conviction sentence, and then afterward, start the 4 month Criminal Mischief sentence. This results in the man getting a total of 10 months in jail. Much worse than just six months, and longer than a Concurrent sentence.
Why do Loveland Judges Sentence Consecutively Rather than Concurrently in Loveland Courts?
Loveland and Fort Collins Judges sentence Consecutively and Concurrently to arrive at what they feel is a fair sentence for the severity of the crime and the criminal history of the individual being sentenced. If the man in the example above has beaten up his ex-girlfriend twice previously, the judge will want to be sure that the man sits longer in jail. The judge will give a Consecutive sentence. If the judge feels like two sentences back to back would be unfair for someone’s first criminal case, the judge has the option of having every charge served Concurrently. Even four or five charges can all be served Concurrently. We have even seen judges make two charges served Concurrently and then two others served Consecutively, to achieve their sentencing goals. In an even more extreme example, we’ve seen judges take two entirely separate cases and have them served either Consecutively or Concurrently.
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