Final answer:
A 'criminal episode' entails the commission of two or more offenses that are related by time, similar purpose, and continuous conduct, impacting how charges and sentences are determined in criminal law.
Step-by-step explanation:
A "criminal episode" refers to the commission of two or more offenses which are closely related in time, have not been prosecuted separately, involve the same or similar purposes and are committed through a continued course of conduct. In the realm of criminal law, a law that prohibits actions that could harm or endanger others and establishes punishment for those actions, the concept of a criminal episode becomes important in charging and prosecution. The term is significant when considering offenses like armed robbery, where multiple criminal acts (e.g., carrying an unlawful weapon and robbing a person) may occur in quick succession. The charges and resulting sentences may be affected by whether the offenses are considered part of a single episode or separate incidences.