NationStates Jolt Archive

? Clarify.

You know, when the judge sentences a rapist to 150/300/a billion years in prison. Is the judicary anticipating some kind of massive change in life expectancy we should know about?

Life isn't what it used to be, but 150 years is fairly definite.

You know, when the judge sentences a rapist to 150/300/a billion years in prison. Is the judicary anticipating some kind of massive change in life expectancy we should know about?

if you're talking about something like "7 consecutive 99 year sentences" or something like that, there is a reason for it. it has to do when their first parole hearing takes place as well as any event that could cause the sentence to be shortened.

Life isn't what it used to be, but 150 years is fairly definite.

So if a judge sentences you to life there is more chance of getting out than if he sentences you to a finite (although excessive) number of years?

So if a judge sentences you to life there is more chance of getting out than if he sentences you to a finite (although excessive) number of years?

Probably. I believe 'life' terms in some countries are only 25 years. However, you could probably look up the duration of life terms if you aren't lazy like me.

You know, when the judge sentences a rapist to 150/300/a billion years in prison. Is the judicary anticipating some kind of massive change in life expectancy we should know about?

Well being a law student, I can logically answer this.

When someone is convicted of multiple crimes or whatever, they could, like, get the maximum punishment for each crime, or like, count thing.

And there's totally a difference between life and 180 years.

You know, when the judge sentences a rapist to 150/300/a billion years in prison. Is the judicary anticipating some kind of massive change in life expectancy we should know about?

Better than the UK, where the sentences are appallingly short, and then the judges make a point of justifying their harshness! That'd be comic if it wasn't so tragic.

if you're talking about something like "7 consecutive 99 year sentences" or something like that, there is a reason for it. it has to do when their first parole hearing takes place as well as any event that could cause the sentence to be shortened.

"On Tuesday, Ravalli County District Judge James Haynes sentenced the 45-year-old Stearns to 225 years in prison for three counts of felony indecent exposure last year in Hamilton."

What's the difference between 225 years in prison and - say - 120 years in prison? (Anyone who replies "105 years!" will get stabbed in the gut and I'll end up going to prison to serve a very ironic 105 year sentence)

What's the difference between 225 years in prison and - say - 120 years in prison? (Anyone who replies "105 years!" will get stabbed in the gut and I'll end up going to prison to serve a very ironic 105 year sentence)

One is within the sentence guidelines, the other is not. While there may be no practical difference between the two, a judge may simply be making a point, by applying the maximum sentence to the crimes.

"On Tuesday, Ravalli County District Judge James Haynes sentenced the 45-year-old Stearns to 225 years in prison for three counts of felony indecent exposure last year in Hamilton."

What's the difference between 225 years in prison and - say - 120 years in prison? (Anyone who replies "105 years!" will get stabbed in the gut and I'll end up going to prison to serve a very ironic 105 year sentence)

225 yrs? that's 85 yrs per tem. now did this person have a previous record of such activity? that would also be factored into the sentencing.

"On Tuesday, Ravalli County District Judge James Haynes sentenced the 45-year-old Stearns to 225 years in prison for three counts of felony indecent exposure last year in Hamilton."

What's the difference between 225 years in prison and - say - 120 years in prison? (Anyone who replies "105 years!" will get stabbed in the gut and I'll end up going to prison to serve a very ironic 105 year sentence)

Are you sure that the judge actually sentenced him to "225 years" or "3 consecutive sentences of 75 years" or somesuch? A lot of articles will just give the total for convience sake.

At any rate, I'm pretty sure JuNii has it right. The term of the sentence, how many sentences, whether they are concurrent or consecutive all affect when the convicted can get parole.

225 yrs? that's 85 yrs per tem. now did this person have a previous record of such activity? that would also be factored into the sentencing.
75 ;)

75 ;)

my mistake, I calculated it as 255 years. :cool:

That entirely depends on the jurisdiction - what sentence is given is nowhere near what is actually served. Convicts are freed early (sometimes there is a big push on this due to overcrowding) so the actual jail-time is a fraction of the sentence if you factor in early parole, reduced time for good behavior, 'compassionate release', etc. Last time I looked it up, the average time served for a 'life' sentence around here was only 22 years.

The sentences you talk about are those for multiple counts, e.g. three counts of aggravated robbery or something, each individually punished by, say, a sentence of 40 years.

You couldn't just hand out a sentence of life without parole for a crime like aggravated robbery, because that's not the sentence the law provides for this kind of crime because it would be disproportional. This happens to result in sentences that, with multiple counts, can well end up longer than whatever years that life sentence would have equated.

That said, I find the lengths of sentences in the US to be utterly revolting and a travesty, befitting the underlying philosophy of punishment instead of rehabilitation.

When someone is sentenced to life in prison, is there a number attatched to it? In America specifically. Does it vary by state?:confused:

What's the difference between 225 years in prison and - say - 120 years in prison? (Anyone who replies "105 years!" will get stabbed in the gut and I'll end up going to prison to serve a very ironic 105 year sentence)

It's actually a safety net against parole. Most systems allow parole after 25-50% of the sentence is served with 120yrs that's 60 he comes out at 105 and may actually be alive, with 225 thats 112.5 leaving him at 157.5 which is beyond the present record....

Well being a law student, I can logically answer this.

When someone is convicted of multiple crimes or whatever, they could, like, get the maximum punishment for each crime, or like, count thing.

I concur with my esteemed law school colleague.

when jeffery dahmer was sentenced to multiple life sentences that added up to several hundred years of incarceration the judge explained that he wanted to make certain that dahmer never get out of prison. he didnt want to have a more rational sentence like "life in prison without possibility of parole" be declared unconstitutional for some stupid reason in the future and leave dahmer eligible for parole like charles manson is.

not that it mattered, dahmer was murdered in prison after less than 2 years there.

its also sometimes done to give the family of each victim a feeling of justice. so even though it adds up to a ridiculous amount of time, each victim is represented in the sentence.

I suspect this is an idiotic question, but does the American system subscribe to the whole rehabilitation thing for their prisioners in the areas that don't have the death penalty, or use the long terms as a replacement for the death penalty in those areas which don't have it?

I suspect this is an idiotic question, but does the American system subscribe to the whole rehabilitation thing for their prisioners in the areas that don't have the death penalty, or use the long terms as a replacement for the death penalty in those areas which don't have it?

that would be dependant on each state and how they run their penal system.

When someone is sentenced to life in prison, is there a number attatched to it? In America specifically. Does it vary by state?:confused:

I'm pretty sure it does. If memory serves, my state, Texas, a life sentance is forty years. Where I believe a life sentance in New York is thirty-five.

I suspect this is an idiotic question, but does the American system subscribe to the whole rehabilitation thing for their prisioners in the areas that don't have the death penalty, or use the long terms as a replacement for the death penalty in those areas which don't have it?

Of course it doesn't. Why do you think I'm trying so hard to get it to do so?

Theyve hit it on the dot -- if the consecutive sentences add up to 300 years, then even being allowed parole after a mere third of their term is still 100 years in jail.

That, and the bigger the number, the bigger the point. We knew it'd be reduced, but the 3-billion dollar judgment against a cigarettes company woke everyone up.

if you're talking about something like "7 consecutive 99 year sentences" or something like that, there is a reason for it. it has to do when their first parole hearing takes place as well as any event that could cause the sentence to be shortened.

Except for those states which have abolished Parole... Like Virginia... A person serves at minimum 10 months on a 1 year sentence, assuming they maintain good behavior for their entire time... So 40 years = 33 years, 4 months... A life sentence means just that in this state... Barring your sentence being commuted or reprieved by a court or the Governor, you're going to be in prison until the day you die.

Except for those states which have abolished Parole... Like Virginia... A person serves at minimum 10 months on a 1 year sentence, assuming they maintain good behavior for their entire time... So 40 years = 33 years, 4 months... A life sentence means just that in this state... Barring your sentence being commuted or reprieved by a court or the Governor, you're going to be in prison until the day you die.

I don't think Virgina abolished Parole. I don't think any US State abolished Parole.

and Life is not the same as Life w/o parole. a Life sentence still allows the prisioner a chance for parole after the minimum.

Probably. I believe 'life' terms in some countries are only 25 years. However, you could probably look up the duration of life terms if you aren't lazy like me.25 sounds about right for Germany. Also, consecutive sentencing is not done here. Any additional sentencing comes from revocation of parole status or if they find out you've committed more crimes that you haven't been sentenced for after you've been sentenced already. Albeit, depending on the gravity of said crimes, the earlier or later sentence may be revoked or not come about at all.

It's actually a safety net against parole. Most systems allow parole after 25-50% of the sentence is served with 120yrs that's 60 he comes out at 105 and may actually be alive, with 225 thats 112.5 leaving him at 157.5 which is beyond the present record....

I hear they serve very healthy food in prison. Combine that with outside activity and you could have a few 157.5 year olds.

Click Stand;13292180']I hear they serve very healthy food in prison. Combine that with outside activity and you could have a few 157.5 year olds.

Varies by state and county, and of course from person to person. Some people love powdered eggs and instant coffee every morning, while others get bored with bologna on white bread with mayo every noon after a few years. :p

25 sounds about right for Germany. Also, consecutive sentencing is not done here. Any additional sentencing comes from revocation of parole status or if they find out you've committed more crimes that you haven't been sentenced for after you've been sentenced already. Albeit, depending on the gravity of said crimes, the earlier or later sentence may be revoked or not come about at all.
I read up a bit on the mighty internet:

According to our supreme court, the consitution demands that every prisoner has to have the possibility to some day get out of prison again. I.e. sentences that already are longer than normal life expectancy would be unconstitutional.

A life sentence here means a minimum of 15 years (plus subsequent 5 years probation) after which the prisoner is eligible for parole*, unless his guilt was found to be "very severe" in which case eligibility for parole will take a bit longer - there is no set time frame but according to what I've found it's usually about 5 years longer.

De facto, most people sentenced to a life sentence stay in prison for an average of about 21 years. That number has been rising in the last decades because the media hysteria about "OMG THE MURDER RATE IS RISING!" even though it is actually falling has taken hold here, too, and people and politicians have been clamoring for longer sentences as a result...

The life sentence is the most severe sentence. Hence, any other sentence has to automatically be less than 15 years. As Laerod said, this as well as the constitution excludes the adding up of sentences for "multiple counts of robbery" and the like.


*unless he has been found to pose a severe and continuing threat to society, in which case he can be taken in "security custody", i.e. some more prison. Every 2 years he has to be re-evaluated for potential release. Most get released after 10 years, only the most severe case can be kept longer, even for the rest of their lives. How the latter jibes with the constitution, I have no idea.
Security custody is usually reserved for the serial-killer type, the pathological pedophile child murderer, and other delightful and borderline insane people.