Inmates who are imprisoned have different lengths of prison time depending on their crime. If it is a minor crime, their sentence is short. If it is a serious crime, their sentence is longer or even it can be a death penalty. Now, what is the meaning of “Life in Prison without Parole” and have you heard this expression?
The Meaning of “Life in Prison without Parole” That You Need to Know
What is the meaning of “life in prison without parole”? Well, this expression means that an inmate will spend the rest of their life in prison without the possibility of release. This conviction is usually given to inmates who committed a serious crime and can be a threat to people. Some examples of the crimes for this sentence are certain drug offenses, murder, and aggravated sexual assault. Some states in the United States have used the sentence of life without parole as an alternative to the death penalty.
Is It Possible for a Juvenile to Get a Life in Prison without Parole?
A life in prison without parole for juveniles is a sentence which is given to juveniles who commit a serious crime before they are 18 years old where they spend the remainder of their life in prison without the possibility of parole. In 2012, as explained on the LegalMatch, the US Supreme Court decided that sentences of life without parole for juveniles are unconstitutional and juveniles need to be given a chance for parole. And then, some states have changed their laws to give a possibility for parole for juvenile inmates who have been sentenced to life without parole. Meanwhile, some other states have removed this sentence for juveniles.
Is Life Without Parole Similar to the Death Penalty?
Life without parole is different from the death penalty, but these sentences are legal consequences given to people who commit serious crimes. As explained earlier, life in prison without parole is a sentence given to inmates who committed a serious crime where they need to spend the rest of their life in prison without the possibility of parole to make sure that they do not become a threat to other people. Usually, life in prison without parole becomes an alternative to the death penalty. Meanwhile, the death penalty is a sentence that requires inmates to be put to death by the states where this sentence is usually for the most serious crimes such as treason or murder. By giving the death penalty to an inmate, it is aimed to give a deterrent to other potential criminals and also to give justice to the victims and their families.
It means that in life without parole, inmates are allowed to continue living, but the death penalty means the loss of life. In some cases, whether an inmate will get a life without parole or the death penalty, it depends on the discretion of the judge or jury, but in some other cases, one of these sentences is mandated by the law.
A Number of Crimes That Can be Punished by Life Without Parole
As explained earlier, a life in prison without parole is usually a sentence given to those who commit serious crimes. So, what are they? Is murder included in it? Well, the thing that needs to be noted is that the regulations of giving this sentence can vary depending on the laws of the jurisdiction where the crime was committed. However, a number of serious and heinous crimes that cause inmates to get a life in prison without parole in general are mentioned below according to the LegalMatch.
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- Treason
Treason means a crime against a state or government where the perpetrator betrays a country by helping its enemies, giving them information, and other similar actions.
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- First-degree Murder
The first-degree murder is the most serious type of murder where it is planned and intentional and often it involves aggravated circumstances such as the murder of a child or policeman.
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- Kidnapping
Kidnapping is also a crime that can make someone get a life in prison without parole. Someone usually kidnaps others as a means of extortion or to commit other crimes.
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- Aggravated Sexual Assault
Aggravated sexual assault involves a sexual assault which is violent and even the perpetrator uses a weapon or involves the assault to children.
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- Certain Drug Offenses
In some jurisdictions, there are laws that give a life without parole for drug offenses. Usually, this sentence is given to drug offenders if it involves large quantities of drugs or drug trafficking.
However, of course, whether someone will be given a life without parole or not, it depends on the laws of the jurisdiction and the specific circumstances of the crime.
States That Practice Death Penalty That Offer Life Without Parole
There are a lot of states that practice the death penalty that offer life without parole, according to the Death Penalty Info, and those states are listed below.
- Arizona
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- California
- Florida
- Idaho
- Georgia
- Kansas
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Missouri
- Mississippi
- Nevada
- Montana
- Ohio
- North Carolina
- Oregon
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Dakota
- South Carolina
- Texas
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Wyoming
It is important for you to note that three strikes laws in some states may make life without parole can be used for at least some inmates in those states.
States That Do Not Practice Death Penalty That Offer Life Without Parole
According to the same source, here are a number of non-death penalty states that offer life without parole.
- Delaware
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Hawaii
- Iowa
- Illinois
- Maryland
- Maine
- Michigan
- Massachusetts
- Nebraska
- Minnesota
- New Jersey
- New Hampshire
- New York
- New Mexico
- Rhode Island
- North Dakota
- Virginia
- Vermont
- Wisconsin
- West Virginia
- Washington
The District of Columbia is also included in it.
What Do People Think About Life without Parole?
People who are opponents to the life sentence think that life without parole disregards the value of the rest of the inmate’s natural life and it also removes the possibility of that person to reform and to be a functioning member in society. They think that this sentence is the same as the death penalty because the inmate will die in the prison. They also think that this sentence is not fair if it needs to be inflicted on juvenile inmates.
Those who agree with a life without parole see that this sentence is a substitute for the death penalty and they think that it has the same effect, but this sentence can be reversed if there is evidence which can prove that the inmate is not wrong. They also think that this sentence is cheaper than the death penalty where the death penalty can cause endless appeals. According to them, this sentence is effective for protecting people from dangerous criminals.
A bookworm and researcher especially related to law and citizenship education. I spend time every day in front of the internet and the campus library.
