3.13 Separate Consideration of Multiple Counts-Multiple Defendants is a legal principle that allows a judge or jury to consider each of several counts in an indictment separately and individually when dealing with multiple defendants. This principle ensures that each defendant is only responsible for the actions that he/she is actually charged with and not for the actions of the other defendants. There are two types of 3.13 Separate Consideration of Multiple Counts-Multiple Defendants: joint and severable counts. Joint counts involve the same criminal offense committed by multiple defendants at the same time and place, while severable counts are separate criminal offenses committed by more than one defendant.