A cumulative sentence is a legal term used in criminal law to describe a sentence that is served consecutively, one after the other, for multiple convictions or charges. In other words, the offender serves the time for each offense separately, and the total sentence length is the sum of the individual sentences for each crime. Cumulative sentences are often imposed when an individual is convicted of multiple crimes during the same criminal proceeding. This contrasts with concurrent sentences, where multiple sentences are served at the same time, resulting in a shorter overall period of incarceration. Cumulative sentencing aims to ensure that offenders are held accountable for each separate offense they commit.
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This glossary post was last updated: 29th March, 2024.
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