When a defendant is convicted of more than one crime with a determinate term, and the trial court imposes consecutive sentences, what is the principal term?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from People v. Hall, B265883 (Cal. App. 2017):

When a defendant is convicted of more than one offense with a determinate term, and the trial court imposes consecutive sentences, "the term with the longest sentence is the 'principal term'; any term consecutive to the principal term is a 'subordinate term.' ( 1170.1, subd. (a).) The court imposes the full term, either lower, middle, or upper, for the principal term. However, in general (there are exceptions), the court imposes only 'one-third of the middle term' for subordinate terms. (Ibid.)" (People v. Felix (2000) 22 Cal.4th 651, 655.) "Enhancements are added to subordinate terms for 'violent' felonies, but they can be only 'one-third of the term.' ( 1170.1, subd. (a); see also 1170.11.)" (Ibid.)

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