Separate Consideration — Multiple Defendants Charged with the Same Crimes is a legal term that describes when multiple defendants are charged with the same crime(s). The concept of separate consideration means that each defendant is considered separately for trial, sentencing, and/or other legal matters. This ensures that each defendant is treated fairly and that no defendant is held responsible for the actions of another. There are two types of separate consideration: joint trial and separate trials. In a joint trial, all defendants are tried together, with the same jury and the same judge. In a separate trial, each defendant is tried individually, with a different jury and a different judge. This allows each defendant to receive individual attention and ensure that no one is held responsible for the actions of another.