Why do "life prison sentences" generally last about 15 years ??

fuzzybuddy

fuzzybuddy

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It seems that a murder gets a "life sentence", yet he's out by Thursday. In the US, "Normally the term of a life sentence is 15 years." To my unsophisticated idea of a "life sentence" is the guy only gets out of prison feet first. Why give a "life prison sentence" if the convict is due to be released at some time? I understand the hopelessness of being in prison till one dies creates behavioral problems, so why give "life" when it isn't? If the crime warrants "life", then why isn't it for life?
 

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RadishRose said:
It crossed my mind that the system doesn't want to pay for medical care and funeral costs for those that live a long time. Just a thought.
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Exactly why inmates are released early - especially the older ones. Their upkeep costs are higher, so they are declared "Rehabilitated," which of course is B.S.
Example: O.J. Simpson served 8.5 years of his 33 year sentence for kidnapping & armed robbery.
Bill Cosby was released on some sort of "Legal Technicality."
 
fuzzybuddy said:
It seems that a murder gets a "life sentence", yet he's out by Thursday. In the US, "Normally the term of a life sentence is 15 years." To my unsophisticated idea of a "life sentence" is the guy only gets out of prison feet first. Why give a "life prison sentence" if the convict is due to be released at some time? I understand the hopelessness of being in prison till one dies creates behavioral problems, so why give "life" when it isn't? If the crime warrants "life", then why isn't it for life?
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I agree and I think it's wrong to let them out after 15 years since their victims are still dead after 15 years. This is why crime keeps happening. Life should mean life. They should not leave prison alive.
 
A prisoner doesn't get out if he cannot get parole. This is just one type of sentence. They vary for the types of murder committed. There is also life without parole. Each state sets its own standards for what a prisoner must demonstrate if he/she is to be paroled.
 
Canada has one national Criminal Code, so the sentencing here is uniform right across the country. A first degree murder conviction brings a 25 year sentence, after serving that sentence, a person MAY apply for parole, but that does not mean they will get it., In Canada there is a thing called " Dangerous Offender Status " that if applied at sentencing means the person is likely never getting out of prison. Recently a man in New Brunswick shot and killed 3 RCMP officers. He was sentenced to three life sentences, to be served one after the other, effectively he will die in prison, as he was in his 30's when convicted. JimB,
 
In the UK life sentence is 15 years.. with good behaviour a life will almost always do less than 10 years.. we don't have whole life sentences.. except in cases where the person is deranged and always will be a danger to themselves or the public.. for example as in the case of the child killers...Hyndley and Brady... or any Serial killers
 

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