Simple English definitions for legal terms
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A definitive sentence is a judgment that a court formally pronounces after finding a criminal defendant guilty. It is the punishment imposed on a criminal wrongdoer. For example, a sentence of 20 years in prison is a definitive sentence.
Other types of sentences include:
For example, if a defendant receives concurrent sentences of 5 years and 15 years, the total amount of jail time is 15 years. This illustrates a concurrent sentence. Similarly, if a defendant receives consecutive sentences of 20 years and 5 years, the total amount of jail time is 25 years. This illustrates a consecutive sentence.