Two Lifetimes in Jail?

Question

When a person is convicted of what is usually a heinous or multiple heinous crimes, the sentence of "Two lifetimes in jail" or "A lifetime in jail plus 6 years" is sometimes imposed. What is the meaning of such a punishment? Is it simply a way of saying "you'll never get out"?

Answer 1

Exactly.

So, that way there is no chance of ever being let out on parole.

See, even with a life sentence, there is almost always a chance of a parole hearing after a certain time, usually 25 years.

So, this way, there is no way they will ever get out.

Answer 2

No.

Bill Sands, who wrote "My Shadow Ran Fast" served three life sentences in five years.

If you are convicted of multiple counts, you can receive up to a lifetime sentence on each. The judge will specify if the sentences are to run concurrently or consecutively. If the sentences are to run consecutively, it's a judge's way of saying he hopes you rot in prison.

In most cases, a person serving a lifetime sentence may be paroled after a certain amount of time. In ALL cases, a person serving a lifetime sentence may be released because the governor pardons or commutes the sentence.

Generally, one only goes to jail for very short sentences, or for pre-trial confinement, and instead goes to prison for life sentences.

Answer 3

Most sentences that are for 'life' are eligable for parole in 20-40 years. And many multiple life sentences are concurrent, meaning the time in one sentence is counted as served in the other(s) as well. So, if you get 2 life sentences, it is possible that you could get out in 20 or more years.

If they are not concurrent, the idea is just to make the victim's relatives and friends feel better with multiple life sentences. Because obviously, one life is all that they can serve.

Answer 4

It depends if it is passed down with the possibility of parole or not. Since some crimes do not allow for life without parole, this is one way a judge can make sure the individual does not come up for and receive parole. In states without the death penalty, this is another way to make sure the individual never gets freed. If there is more than one crime charged, the judge is free to award multiple sentences.

Answer 5

Only in America people can be sentenced for such a long prison terms. Majority of American judges are senile old individuals with conservative views. Accordingly they hand such sentences without realising that they are playing with peoples lives. American judicial system is a joke and the worst one on the face of this planet..

Answer 6

Many life sentences allow for parole after a certain amount of time. For example, the may be able to get out in 20 years with good behavior. So they add multiple sentences to ensure that even with paroles, they will never get out. Or, that 6 years must be added on to any parole.

Answer 7

Say he's convicted of three murders- each murder is eligible for a sentence. Rather than have the punishments run concurrently, so that each year served takes a year off all three sentences, he must serve all of sentence 1, then all of sentence 2, etc.

In short- he's not leaving jail alive.

Answer 8

Sometimes they appeal the decision in court. They might be able to reduce the sentence by a certain amount of years.

So, if someone was sentenced to 2 lifetime sentences, they might be able to get it reduced to just one lifetime.

Later on, they might be able to reduce it again and be out before they die.

That's why they are originally given so many lifetime sentences.

Answer 9

[Is it simply a way of saying "you'll never get out"?]

Not at all:

Kelsey Grammer Vows to Speak for Sister if Killer Pursues Parole
Thursday, September 06, 2007

Kelsey Grammer
DENVER — Actor Kelsey Grammer is vowing to come to Colorado and speak for his sister if the man who killed her more than 30 years ago makes a bid for parole.

Fifty-year-old Freddie Lee Glenn is serving three life terms for several crimes, including the 1975 murder of 18-year-old Karen Grammer in Colorado Springs.

Police say Glenn and two other men kidnapped her as she walked into the Red Lobster restaurant where she worked -- after they attempted to rob it.

Glenn later slit Grammer's throat.

He was convicted of murder, second-degree kidnapping and armed robbery. Glenn was sentenced to death, but his sentence was commuted to life in prison due to changes in laws.

He'll be eligible for parole in January.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,295994,00.html

Answer 10

Sometimes "Life" refers to a specific number of years, and so rules of time off for good behavior would apply.