How are sentences served when an inmate has different sentences for unrelated offenses?

When an inmate has different sentences for unrelated offenses, those sentences are typically served consecutively. This means that after the inmate completes the term of the first sentence, they will then begin serving the second sentence, and so forth, until all sentences are fulfilled. This approach is often used in the criminal justice system to ensure that the ramifications of each separate offense are fully realized and served as distinct penalties.

In the context of law and corrections, consecutive sentencing reflects the principle that each crime should result in a separate punishment, thereby emphasizing accountability for multiple offenses rather than allowing them to overlap or reduce the overall time served. This structure is common practice, particularly when the offenses are unrelated, as it underscores the severity of each individual crime.

The other possibilities, while they might sound plausible, do not accurately reflect standard correctional practices for unrelated offenses. For instance, concurrent sentencing would mean serving all sentences at the same time, which does not apply here due to the nature of the offenses being unrelated. Similarly, simultaneous and random serving of sentences do not fit established legal frameworks for handling distinct legal matters.