Meaning of Concord sentence | Babel Free

Definitions

An atypically long sentence with an early parole eligibility, the time of parole eligibility constituting the "real" intended sentence.

historical

Examples

“The deal agreed to by the D.A. and the defense […] was a little less severe than press reports indicated. In Massachusetts judicial practice, a "Concord" sentence is one that imposes a great amount of time on a convict. However, he is usually eligible for parole after just a few months. […] It is as though the heavy sentences [are] aimed primarily for public consumption.”

“Chapter 432 of the Acts of 1993 […] established the Massachusetts Sentencing Commission and introduced the first phase of truth-in-sentencing reform in Massachusetts. The objective of the sentencing reform initiative was to establish a more truthful relationship between the sentence imposed and time served by incarcerated offenders. Some of the specific provisions of this legislation included: • the elimination of the Concord or reformatory sentence;[…]”

CEFR level