Life Sentences

[Willy Nilly]

Very often I hear on the news how some one has been found guilty of, for example, murder and given a life sentence with a minimum of 14 years. They the victims family comes on and says it's an outrage that they have only got 14 years.

Now, my understanding is, that 14 years is the minimum amount of time before they can be considered for parole. So, if they have been a good boy or girl the ball might get rolling in 14 years time. Then if they do get released it is on license and these licenses come with numerous terms and conditions and they can be recalled to prison at any time. Do I have this right?

So, a couple or questions.

Is this not explained to the victims families and if it is, is the response and standard one repeated parrot fashion by their legal representatives?

Also, how many life prisoners ever get released on license, how long after their minimum sentence and how often are the likely to be recalled?

Hmm, maybe this should be in the speed plod and law section. Mods, do your worst.

[Robb F]

If someone had murdered a loved one, I'd want them to die in prison.

Not get considered for parole in 14 years...

[12gauge]

Also some sentenced end up being manslaughter, for little apparent reason, and even more derisory sentences occur.

Career criminal with history of violence kills a man. Two and a half years, two and a half years FFS.
http://www.chad.co.uk/news/local/grieving-mum-s-ou...

Whats the shortest sentence you've heard of?

Though I guess lots of rich scumbags like Ted Kennedy get off scot free.

[AJS-]

The manslaughter/murder thing really annoys me. I wish we would introduce second degree murder.

To my mind manslaughter is accidental death, perhaps by negligence or stupidity. When there is violent intent, even if not premeditated or intended to kill, that is a far more serious matter in my view.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Robb F said:

If someone had murdered a loved one, I'd want them to die in prison.

Not get considered for parole in 14 years...

Maybe true, but if you have no parole or reduced time for good behaviour, it makes managing these people in prison very difficult.

[Murph7355]

If someone had murdered a loved one, I'd want them to die...

No need for defining where explicitly for me.

Which also resolves the need to worry about "managing" them in prison.

[Derek Smith]

'Life' is a hangover from the old days. I have no idea why it was left in. There is no life sentance anymore except in extreme circumstances.

So the penalty for murder is fixed - life - but a judge can fix the tarrif.

There have been cases of murder where the person has been released after trial. The average for murder of a husband or wife was around 7 years, a little less for the former.

There is little doubt that murder sentences are the worm can. However, as seen last week, it is perhaps not a good idea to hang people.

I don't know the answer.

[Murph7355]

Derek Smith said:

....

There is little doubt that murder sentences are the worm can. However, as seen last week, it is perhaps not a good idea to hang people.

....

Did we hang someone last week? (More or less genuine question Not sure what you're referring to).

[Derek Smith]

Murph7355 said:

Did we hang someone last week? (More or less genuine question Not sure what you're referring to).

Someone convicted of murder had his conviction overturned.

Lst week a person executed in the USA was, after extensive re-examination of the evidence, found to be innocent, at least of the charge. Bit late for the first bloke, well late for the second.

[davepoth]

Derek Smith said:

Murph7355 said:

Did we hang someone last week? (More or less genuine question Not sure what you're referring to).

Someone convicted of murder had his conviction overturned.

Lst week a person executed in the USA was, after extensive re-examination of the evidence, found to be innocent, at least of the charge. Bit late for the first bloke, well late for the second.

And I think that USA example is a very good reason why, sensible though it may seem in some cases, we should never have the death sentence again.

[Murph7355]

davepoth said:

And I think that USA example is a very good reason why, sensible though it may seem in some cases, we should never have the death sentence again.

I guess it depends on the details...

Equally, there are plenty of examples of sure fire cases where having the option would surely be beneficial all round (apart, possibly, from the perps perspective).