Back-to-back life sentences
Encyclopedia
In judicial practice
, back-to-back life sentences are two consecutive life sentences given to a felon
. This penalty is typically used to prevent the felon from ever getting released from prison
.
This is a common punishment for a double murder
in the United States
; this is effective because the defendant may be awarded parole after 25 years when he or she is eligible, and then must serve an additional 25 years in prison to be eligible for parole again. It also serves as a type of insurance that the defendant will have to serve the maximum length of at least one life sentence if, for some reason, one of the murders is overturned on appeal.
Other countries either allow multiple concurrent life sentences which can be served at the same time (e.g. Canada), or allow multiple consecutive life sentences with a single minimum term (e.g. Australia), thus allowing earlier release of the prisoner.
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
, back-to-back life sentences are two consecutive life sentences given to a felon
Felony
A felony is a serious crime in the common law countries. The term originates from English common law where felonies were originally crimes which involved the confiscation of a convicted person's land and goods; other crimes were called misdemeanors...
. This penalty is typically used to prevent the felon from ever getting released from prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
.
This is a common punishment for a double murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
; this is effective because the defendant may be awarded parole after 25 years when he or she is eligible, and then must serve an additional 25 years in prison to be eligible for parole again. It also serves as a type of insurance that the defendant will have to serve the maximum length of at least one life sentence if, for some reason, one of the murders is overturned on appeal.
Other countries either allow multiple concurrent life sentences which can be served at the same time (e.g. Canada), or allow multiple consecutive life sentences with a single minimum term (e.g. Australia), thus allowing earlier release of the prisoner.