Committee Comments

Section (a) is intended to encompass multiple charges arising from the same criminal episode or unrelated offenses for which sentence is imposed at one time and provides that these sentences shall run consecutively, unless the judge directs otherwise.

Under section (b), the judge may provide that the sentence imposed will run concurrently with any other sentence which has previously been imposed on the defendant, including sentences imposed in federal courts or courts of other states or jurisdictions subject to United States law, or other courts within Alabama.

Section (c) allows the judge discretion to, at any time, amend a sentence order to permit a sentence to run concurrently with another sentence.

It has been held that the courts in Alabama that in order for a sentence to run concurrently with another sentence, the judgment must affirmatively so state. Otherwise, the sentences are held to run consecutively. See Ex parte McElhannon, 43 Ala. App. 375, 190 So. 2d 742 (1966); Ledbetter v. State, 24 Ala. App. 583, 139 So. 299 (1932); Ala. Code 1975, § 14-4-9. The rule is thus consistent with present Alabama practice.