Life Sentences

D

Damaged Goods

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Location
Maryland
Some are life with no possibility of parole.

Some are Life. Period, but data show that the avg. time incarcerated is 17 years.

But what is ___ years to life? Dana Stubblefield e.g., was sentenced to 15 years to life. What the hell does that mean, where the sentence is expressed in a range of time?
 

Damaged Goods said:
Some are life with no possibility of parole.

Some are Life. Period, but data show that the avg. time incarcerated is 17 years.

But what is ___ years to life? Dana Stubblefield e.g., was sentenced to 15 years to life. What the hell does that mean, where the sentence is expressed in a range of time?
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It shortens or lengthens the time they are required to serve before becoming eligible for parole. If 15 to life, they're eligible to request a parole review/hearing in no less than 7 years (I think, and maybe it varies state to state), where if given 25 to life they're not eligible until they've served twice that.

The parole board has the option to deny any request based on court records and inquiries they send to victim's family, the DA, the prosecuting atty, etc.
 
I don't know. But yesterday I was watching a program, I think on A&E in which they were talking about and interviewing men who had received life sentences for crimes committed at 17 years of age or younger. Some stated they had changed but would live their lives behind bars. There was one, though talking very rational, gave me the feeling if he were out, he'd kill again.
 

Life sentences can be changed by judicial rulings. Life doesn’t mean life in many states. A life at hard labor (think Devils Island) would be my idea of a proper sentence for a hardened criminal.
 
I believe that a real life sentence ("you'll die in prison") is not a good idea for prison control. People need some kind of carrot to look forward to. Parole, no matter how far off, or attainable helps. That's why we have those indeterminate sentences to help control prisoners. I also believe there are some who should just rot in jail till they die.
 
In Pennsylvania. Life is life. However, there are appeals and it isn’t that unusual for some appeals judges to send a case back to the sentencing judge for re-sentencing due to several factors such as; a mistake made while giving instructions to the jury or even a judge allowing a certain piece of evidence. The conviction may stand, but the charge may be reduced to a second or third degree conviction. Here in PA all degrees of a murder conviction are eligible for a life sentence. Last I knew, our jails were beginning to show lower numbers. We just recently, in the past 10 years, closed several prisons.
 
The US has the largest prisoner population, by far, and it costs the taxpayers over 75 billion dollars/yr to support these "warehouses". That amount of money would help support millions of honest people who are barely getting by. Increasingly, States are having to release these criminals back into society, due to these soaring costs.
Most statistics indicate a slight reduction in most crimes over the past decade....but, it will be interesting to see if that holds true when the numbers for 2020 are compiled. Between this virus, and high unemployment, I suspect the numbers will rise.
 
I always thought a life sentence was 25 years minimum.
Of course over here the law is a bit different if the Judge decides you are in for life, your papers are marked "Never to be released"
 
Don M. said:
The US has the largest prisoner population, by far, and it costs the taxpayers over 75 billion dollars/yr to support these "warehouses". That amount of money would help support millions of honest people who are barely getting by. Increasingly, States are having to release these criminals back into society, due to these soaring costs.
Most statistics indicate a slight reduction in most crimes over the past decade....but, it will be interesting to see if that holds true when the numbers for 2020 are compiled. Between this virus, and high unemployment, I suspect the numbers will rise.
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Unfortunately those "crime" numbers will be "off" too. 2020 the year everyone forgot how to count correctly........

Many DA's do not charge unless the case is a slam dunk............ look at all the crime that happened with looting and destruction in many places and police were told to stand down and let it happen .....some feel we should let the small stuff go .... if that is the case change the law........... but letting criminals go without any coverage that it is happening is easier for politicians to sell then ........ "it is now ok for people to take your stuff or attack you, just turn the other cheek"

I heard in City of Seattle they have a "poverty defense " so if you rob or steal you can just say "I am poor" and it is a get out of jail free card.........
I agree that is a ridiculous amount to spend to warehouse people....... but not sure this ignore all laws attitude will help.....funny some seem to like to have weird obscure laws that may have never been used dusted off if they try to go after a foe etc....
So many with Life sentence should have perhaps had a death penalty but some feel that is not acceptable and the legal wranglings in that cost as much as warehousing them.
 
Murrmurr said:
It shortens or lengthens the time they are required to serve before becoming eligible for parole. If 15 to life, they're eligible to request a parole review/hearing in no less than 7 years (I think, and maybe it varies state to state), where if given 25 to life they're not eligible until they've served twice that.

The parole board has the option to deny any request based on court records and inquiries they send to victim's family, the DA, the prosecuting atty, etc.
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It is different in each state.
 
I have seen people sentenced to life and then have been back on the streets in less than serving 10 years. Expensive, high profile lawyers can sometimes work wonders. And, boy, can they.
 

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