Life imprisonment is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime, the length of which varies between jurisdictions; many countries have a maximum possible period of time a prisoner may be incarcerated, or require the possibility of parole after a set amount of time.
The definition varies from one U.S. state to another. Life imprisonment often lasts until the prisoner dies, especially in cases where life imprisonment is imposed as alternative to the death penalty. It is also usual that life terms are given in sentences that are intentionally longer than how long the prisoner is expected to live, e.g. a 200-year sentence for multiple counts of murder. In contrast to that, there are also many states where a convict can be released on parole after a decade or more has passed. For example, sentences of "15 years to life" or "25 years to life" may be given; this is called an "indeterminate life sentence," while a sentence of "life without the possibility of parole" is called a "determinate life sentence." Even when a sentence specifically denies the possibility of parole, government officials may have the power to grant amnesty or reprieves, or commute a sentence to time served. Under the federal criminal code, however, with respect to offenses committed after December 1, 1987, parole has been abolished for all sentences handed down by the federal system, including life sentences, so a life sentence from a federal court will result in imprisonment for the life of the defendant, unless a pardon or reprieve is granted by the President. A broad range of crimes can serve as the predicate act for a life sentence in the United States, ranging from petty theft to murder. Notably, the U.S. Supreme Court on several occasions has upheld lengthy sentences for petty theft including life with the possibility of parole and 50 years to life; neither conflicts with the ban on "cruel and unusual punishment" in the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution because they are not torture.
2006-12-18 04:41:46
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answer #1
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answered by hey hows it goin 3
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2016-06-11 11:05:07
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answer #2
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answered by Marlon 3
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A life sentence could mean 20, 25, or 30 years depending on the jusrisdiction. However once you walk into prison they start deducting time for good behavior. A sentence of life that meant 25 could mean you would be out in 18 with good time deducted. The judge probably threw the 40 years on top, knowing that if they were concurrent sentences that the bad guy will never see the outside.
By the way...all bets are off if you get sentenced federally. They have mandatory minimums so you serve what you are sentenced! NO good time.
2006-12-18 18:10:46
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answer #3
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answered by Kevin C 3
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For the best answers, search on this site https://shorturl.im/avYlf
Well dealing with prison life everyday (as a guard, not inmate) I believe that these in mate get way too many rights. I really think that once they do the crime they need to be responsible for their actions, and they give up their rights....kind of like how they took away the rights of their victim. But you get people that complain that these inmates still have rights. Now tell me how an inmate that rapes someone still has rights, didn't he take away all his victims rights when the forced them into a sexual act. Now his victim may or may not be able to go on with their normal life, and this inmate is now working out 8 hours a day, three square meals, ice skating and playing hockey (don't get me started on that!!) watching TV (with more cable channels that I get) and pretty much living a good life. I can tell you that when an inmate is written a "major" ticket it does add time to his sentence, so at least that's something.
2016-04-08 22:58:53
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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Life in prison only means true life in prison in some states. Louisiana, for example, has life in prison with no possibility of parole. Most states have possible parole for lifers.
However, depending on the charges, additional time may be tacked on - he could have Life for the murder, and the 40 years for armed robbery; it's all up to the judge.
2006-12-18 04:54:44
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answer #5
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answered by skatoolaki 3
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Okay, for starters the whole set of sentencing laws is a little complicated...you know lawyers are involved so they have to make it complicated so the average cannot possibly understand any of it and you HAVE to HIRE a lawyer to anything significant in the legal system. Now that I'm off my soapbox, here's some insight....at least in Georgia.
When someone is sentenced to life (or any sentence for that matter) the sentence can later be reviewed by the Parole Board. The Parole Board does not answer to the judge, it's a state entity and answers to the governor. As a result of this a "life" sentence was seldom really life behind bars. (Side note: The national average for years served of a life sentence was 7 years in the early 1990s, in Georgia it was 13 years...more on this later.)
The thinking is that after a number of years in prison, the person is not likely to re-offend and could be released on parole and closely supervised (note this is NOT the same as probation, probation is a sentence given by a judge not the state parole board). Parole and probation are similar in how they supervise and handle their people. In Georgia parole officers tend to be better trained whereas probation officers are treated like the red-headed stepchildren of the Department of Corrections (which is mostly concerned with prison bed space).
Okay...so now that you have a basic understanding of how someone sentenced to life might not be in jail their whole life, we can move on to the forty years thing. Back in the mid 1990s there was movement in several states to pass "truth in sentencing" laws which required people convicted to certain crimes (violent ones) to serve the majority of their sentence...this was to preven the parole board from letting these people out too early (in the minds of the voters). Most states went with 85% required to serve, Georgia went with 90% of the sentence. So, what is 90% of life??? Hard to calculate right? So the forty years tacked on helps to ensure the guy stays behind bars a bit longer...assuming that the 40 years was related to one of the "seven deadly sins" under Georgia Law that requires the guilty to serve 90%, he'll have to do 36 of those 40 years. Not to mention it was most likely for a charge other than the murder.
They guy is lucky he didn't get the death penalty because he committed a murder during the commission of a felony, which would make him eligible under Georgia law.
Hope he enjoys being a "pillow biter" in the joint.
2006-12-18 05:13:27
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answer #6
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answered by taters_0 3
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john_mixer9.... I'll try to answer this for you, but I'm not sure your feeble brain will be able to comprehend.
A life sentence, has two possibilities: Life wih a chance of parole OR Life without chance of parole. This anti-social pariah, who brutally murdered a helpless woman, was sentenced to life, but with a chance of parole in 20 or 30 years. By tacking on the extra 40 years, the judge insured that this guy, regardless of when he came up for a parole hearing would have to serve that additional 40 years.
The fact that this guy gave the judge the finger, had nothing to do with the extra 40 years. The judge wanted to make certain that this guy never again saw the outside of a prison again. So it was not just an additional f*uck you.... or was it?
2006-12-18 04:57:18
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answer #7
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answered by Anonymous
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This Site Might Help You.
RE:
What does life in prison mean?
This doesn't make any sense to me: A Georgia man gave the middle finger to a judge who sentenced him to life in prison plus 40 years for the shooting death of a Savannah debutante during a botched robbery. What's the point of giving 40 extra years? Does life in prison mean a certain amount...
2015-08-18 20:43:04
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answer #8
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answered by Chelsie 1
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Actually, a life sentence (in the term of years) varies from state to state and even varies with the actual charge the person was convicted of. The the additional variables are if the life sentence was issued on state or federal charges.
Then there is the life sentence "without the possibility of parole"
This guy is going to spend the next 20 years appealing his sentence. I wouldn't doubt that the fact the judge tacked on the additional 40 years will somehow be used as a reason to re-try the case.
2006-12-18 04:47:02
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answer #9
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answered by maamu 6
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Well it depends on whether it was life in prison with parole or without. If he can go to the parole board for a request to get out early and it is approved, he would still have to serve the other sentence (or portion of it). If he is given life without the possibility of parole, it is just another way of telling him that he is staying in there forever. Same thing goes for people with multiple life sentences, depends on whether they are with the chance of parole or not. Hope this helps
2006-12-18 04:45:14
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answer #10
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answered by Anonymous
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