Verified by Licensed Bail Bond Professionals•Last updated: March 2026
Definition: When a defendant is sentenced on multiple charges: concurrent sentences run at the same time, while consecutive sentences run one after another. A judge in Florida has discretion to order either.
Category: Sentencing · Statute: F.S. 921.16 · Source: Florida Legislature
Concurrent Sentences
The sentences run at the same time. If you receive a 5-year sentence and a 3-year sentence to run concurrently, you serve a total of 5 years (the longer sentence).
Consecutive Sentences
The sentences run back to back. The same 5-year and 3-year sentences running consecutively would total 8 years.
How Judges Decide
In Florida, concurrent sentencing is more common unless: the charges involve separate victims, the offenses occurred at different times or locations, the defendant has a significant criminal history, or the charges are particularly serious.