Why is it called "life imprisonment" if in most countries, it doesn't actually mean "for the rest of your life"? For example, I live in the UK, and here, many people are sentenced to "life imprisonment" for crimes such as murder and sexual attacks, but most are released within 15-30 years. If they plead guilty, they can get their sentence slashed by a third. If they are young when imprisoned, this means that they have a very real chance of getting out with many years still to live.
Also, why is it considered by some to be against a person's human rights to be imprisoned for life? What about the human rights of the person who was killed or attacked?
I'm very interested in answers from all parts of the spectrum.
2007-06-08 09:45:24 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Only the guilty people seem to have rights; the victims certainly don't have a voice that is strongly represented. I believe in an eye for an eye--let the punishment fit the crime; which would certainly eliminate all of the rotting inmates we are supporting on death row for years and years.
2007-06-15 07:56:48 · answer #1 · answered by Gipper 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I suppose one discussion is whether we sent people to "correctional" institutions to punish them, or to correct their behavior. The idea has been around for a while, that at some point, a person may "see the light."
In the US, life imprisonment can be with or without the possibility of parole, as I understand it, and it varies according to the jurisdiction. According to the link below, in Washington State, children as young as eight years old can be sentenced to life without parole. I'm not sure how the UK system differs, but would be interested in hearing about it.
2007-06-16 08:10:15 · answer #2 · answered by Insanity 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think that a murder or rapist should be considered human. The people that think their rights are being violated are the same ones that think serial killers and rapists shouldn't get the death penalty. For some reason they think that the death penalty is a deterrent for others not to kill or rape. It's not. It is a penalty that is permanent for a crime that does so much damage that the criminal no longer serves any purpose in civilized society.
2007-06-15 17:30:33 · answer #3 · answered by Penny K 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Like everything in the legal system "life" is just a definition, meaning 25 years I have to agree with you the rights of the Innocent usually go to hell in an effort to insure the rights of the guilty.
2007-06-08 16:57:17 · answer #4 · answered by sundowner1954 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋