Just had the Weakest Link on in the background, and one contestant was asked "what 'C' is several prison sentences served simultaneously", and the daft cow answered "consecutive".
I'm sure she isn't the only one confused, and have long suspected that actually the vast majority of people are hazy about the distinction, and the Government relies on this woeful ignorance to con people that the justice system is stricter than it is (to save money on prison places).
On the off-chance that anyone reading this isn't sure either (very unlikely, but you never know):
"Concurrent" (adj) Commit ten murders and get the same sentence as for one; what the British justice system uses.
"Consecutive" (adj) Serve full sentence for each conviction, and then start on the next sentence for the next, and so on; what the US justice system uses.
I'm sure she isn't the only one confused, and have long suspected that actually the vast majority of people are hazy about the distinction, and the Government relies on this woeful ignorance to con people that the justice system is stricter than it is (to save money on prison places).
On the off-chance that anyone reading this isn't sure either (very unlikely, but you never know):
"Concurrent" (adj) Commit ten murders and get the same sentence as for one; what the British justice system uses.
"Consecutive" (adj) Serve full sentence for each conviction, and then start on the next sentence for the next, and so on; what the US justice system uses.
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