why doesn't life mean life when a person is handed it for a prison sentance?

Answer 1

Because the system will take a criminal for the majority of his or her life, but paroles them before they become elderly and in constant need of medical attention. They will dump them everytime, to keep from paying extensive medical and then burial expenses.

Answer 2

A life sentence is 99 years years.....but when passing the sentence the Judge will make a recommendation as to the minimum sentence to be served, this is called a tariff.
If the tariff is 25 years , that is the minimum time to be served.
After that time parole may be applied for, but in order to gain release the offender must prove to the parole board that they have participated in Offending Behaviour Programmes, so as to reduce their risk to the public. If they have failed to do this parole will be denied.
Until recently there were several Life means Life prisoners held in UK prisons but this was challenged in the European Court of Human Rights and was deemed to be inhumane.
Now every life sentence prisoner has a set tariff and must work to reduce their risk to the public, some choose not to and therefore will not be released. They can be held for 99 years or their natural life ......which ever comes first!!!!!

Answer 3

"Life" has more than one meaning, two of them being relative to living and a length of time. They take a "life" in some instances, or keep one there for the balance of their "life" in others. I cannot for the life of me figure out why he was only given a life sentence after taking the life of that little girl!

How about these?
(1) The bandage was wound around the wound. (2) The farm was used to produce produce. (3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse. (4) We must polish the Polish furniture. (5) He could lead if he would get the lead out. (6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert. (7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present. (8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum. (9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes. (10) I did not object to the object. (11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid. (12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row. (13) They were too close to the door to close it. (14) The buck does funny things when the does are present. (15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line. (16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow. (17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail. (18) After a number of injections my jaw got number. (19) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear. (20) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests. (21) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?

Answer 4

The rules regarding a "life sentence" vary enormously. This website throws some light on what a "life sentence" can mean.

http://www.answers.com/life+sentence&r=67

In practice, unless the sentence is formally that of "life without possibility of parole," prisoners who are sentenced to life become eligible for parole after a given period of time. After that, it's up to the parole board to make a recommendation, and the governor of the state in which the prisoner was sentenced, to decide if parole will be granted.

The concept of parole was developed when the philosophy with regards to imprisonment changed from purely punative to rehabilitative. The idea being that a person who has committed a crime and is truly penitent can rehabilitate himself/herself while in prison by self-improvement (getting an education, participating in self-help groups and activities like AA, therapy or counseling) and doing things to make restitution to his/her victims. If a person has accomplished true rehabilitation, the rationale goes, it is in the interests of our society to set them free.

In fact the granting of parole is a political action, based at least in part on the heinousness of the crime committed, the notoriety of the criminal, the political temper, and the willingness of the parole board and the governor who signs off on the parole to take a chance.

Is it fair to grant parole to someone who has been handed down a "life" sentence? That's a hard question to answer dispassionately. Many feel, with some justice, that it isn't fair to the victims or the families of the victims, for whom there is no release from the consequences of what happened. There is endless debate on this subject.

Answer 5

A sentence of 'Life Imprisonment' is in two parts, the first part is in custody and subject to review by the Parole Board after the expiration of the minimum term to serve in custody, known as the Tarif, set by the sentencing Judge,( this can be anything from 4 years to whole life) when the prisoner may be released on life licence.
The second part is in the community on licence under the supervision of the 'probation service' and lasts until they die.

Answer 6

One reason is safety. If these hardened criminals knew that there was no chance of ever getting out, what would stop them from killing everyone they see? There would be no incentive for them people to try to better themselves and be rehabilitated (if that even exists). Some people do actually change and can be productive members of society again. Life also means that they may or may not ever get out. A lot of lifers are continually denied parole...even though they are eligible at some point. LIfe without parole, they don't get that chance, but with parole doesn't mean that it will ever be granted.

Answer 7

Depends on the wording. Some are sentenced for Life and are eligible for parole in 30 years!

Many are sentenced to life plus 20 years and are never eligible for parole! In my state, life without parole means life without parole. The only way out is a wood box!

Answer 8

Life doesn't mean "rotting in prison" although some think it should.
If you get a life sentence it means that as well as a prison sentence you will be on "licence" until you die. This means that if you so much as sneeze out of place you can be recalled to prison for an indeterminate amount of time.

Answer 9

In the United States, sometimes, so-called "life sentences" allow the opportunity for parole.

There are many domestic and international definitions for "life sentence" and it depends on where the conviction took place.

I guess it's too much to ask that a "life sentence" means you spend the rest of your life in prison - period.

Answer 10

Any prison sentence has the opportunity of parole after a certain fraction of it, with a life sentence you can get parole after 15 years. However if they don't get parole at any time the opportunity presents itself, then they will stay there for life, and you can only get parole if you are rehabilitated properly.