2007-03-20 08:08:38 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ United Kingdom ➔ Other - United Kingdom
There is no minimum or maximum term for a life sentence. It used to be considered that 15 years and above was a life sentence and that the Home Secretary had the power to change the sentence handed down to a criminal.
The Home Secretary no longer has this power and it's up to the Judge in each individual case to determine and specify what the sentence is and what the minimum recommended time in jail is, that's why you now hear of sentences such as 'life with a minimum recommendation of 12 years' or 15 years or whateve the Judge thinks is fit.
There is another sentence than can be handed out in the most serious of cases which is the 'whole of life tariff' and that's exactly what it says - the prisoner goes to jail until the day they die. Very few 'whole of life tariffs' are handed out, I think the most recent was Harold Shipman who was convicted of 15 killings but suspected of many more. As far as I know only one person has even been released from a whole of life tarrif and that was Reggie Kray who was released when he was an old man on compassionate grounds.
2007-03-20 12:08:51 · answer #1 · answered by Trevor 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's normally the case that a life sentence is handed down, along with a recommendation from the judge to serve x number of years.
When someone is handed a sentence of, for example 8 years, they could get out after 4 for good behaviour.
2007-03-22 10:19:05 · answer #2 · answered by Helena 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The twins got a tariff of 30 years.
The latest to get a Whole Life Tariff, is Ian Huntly, killer of Holly and Jessica in Soham.
In the cases of 3 strikes and out, a tariff can be for 6 months, but the prisoner will be on licence for the rest of his life. Even being arrested for drunk & disorderly will result in going back to jail, do not pass go.
2007-03-20 13:19:29 · answer #3 · answered by ♀SaintsRLFC♀ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've been married for 34 years ........ I think thats probably a life sentence! But seriously I really believe that a life sentence should be just that, especially when given for any kind of murder. With the ever escalating knife & gun crime I also think that a 'life sentence' should be given for possession in a public place of any of these types of weapon. I am sick to death of the infrequent long sentence being handed out only for it to be reduced on appeal, time served awaiting sentence, so called good behaviour & any number of other similar lame excuses. If someone chooses to carry a weapon of any kind the 'self defence' excuse should be quashed immediately & a bloody good sentence given out & stuck to! Back to the question now I have set the world to rights I think a life sentence used to be 30 years but now I think it is 15 years
2007-03-20 08:26:58 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is 25 years
2007-03-20 08:55:44 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Life sentence is an euphemism term we use in the UK. The most heinous criminal will sooner or later be freed for good behaviour or pardoned.
Why you want to turn yourself in?
2007-03-22 22:36:35 · answer #6 · answered by van n 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1
2017-02-17 14:56:34 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not long enough when you are Talking about Child Killers and the Perverts that exist in all of our Country's
2007-03-20 08:42:28 · answer #8 · answered by ashymojo 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
3 1/2 weeks with good behaviour
2007-03-20 08:12:11 · answer #9 · answered by Doodie 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
It depends. If you are sentenced to life for murder, with good behaviour, you can be free within 15 years.
2007-03-20 08:36:36 · answer #10 · answered by Ginny Jin 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋