Life imprisonment
Encyclopedia
Life imprisonment is a sentence
Sentence (law)
In law, a sentence forms the final explicit act of a judge-ruled process, and also the symbolic principal act connected to his function. The sentence can generally involve a decree of imprisonment, a fine and/or other punishments against a defendant convicted of a crime...

 of imprisonment
Imprisonment
Imprisonment is a legal term.The book Termes de la Ley contains the following definition:This passage was approved by Atkin and Duke LJJ in Meering v Grahame White Aviation Co....

 for a serious crime under which the convicted person is to remain in jail
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...

 for the rest of his or her life. Examples of crimes for which a person could receive this sentence include 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...

, severe child abuse
Child abuse
Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...

, rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...

, high treason
High treason
High treason is criminal disloyalty to one's government. Participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplomats, or its secret services for a hostile and foreign power, or attempting to kill its head of state are perhaps...

, severe or violent cases of drug dealing
Illegal drug trade
The illegal drug trade is a global black market, dedicated to cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of those substances which are subject to drug prohibition laws. Most jurisdictions prohibit trade, except under license, of many types of drugs by drug prohibition laws.A UN report said the...

 or human trafficking
Human trafficking
Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings for the purposes of reproductive slavery, commercial sexual exploitation, forced labor, or a modern-day form of slavery...

, or aggravated cases of burglary
Burglary
Burglary is a crime, the essence of which is illicit entry into a building for the purposes of committing an offense. Usually that offense will be theft, but most jurisdictions specify others which fall within the ambit of burglary...

 or robbery
Robbery
Robbery is the crime of taking or attempting to take something of value by force or threat of force or by putting the victim in fear. At common law, robbery is defined as taking the property of another, with the intent to permanently deprive the person of that property, by means of force or fear....

 resulting in death or grievous bodily harm
Grievous bodily harm
Grievous bodily harm is a term of art used in English criminal law which has become synonymous with the offences that are created by sections 18 and 20 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861....

.

This sentence does not exist in all countries. Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...

 was the first country in the world to abolish life imprisonment by the Prison reform
Prison reform
Prison reform is the attempt to improve conditions inside prisons, aiming at a more effective penal system.-History:Prisons have only been used as the primary punishment for criminal acts in the last couple of centuries...

s of Sampaio e Melo, in 1884. However, where life imprisonment is a possible sentence, there may also be formal mechanisms to request parole
Parole
Parole may have different meanings depending on the field and judiciary system. All of the meanings originated from the French parole . Following its use in late-resurrected Anglo-French chivalric practice, the term became associated with the release of prisoners based on prisoners giving their...

 after a certain period of imprisonment. This means that a convict could be entitled to spend the rest of the sentence (that is, until he or she dies) outside of prison. Early release is usually conditional depending on past and future conduct, possibly with certain restrictions or obligations. In contrast, in jurisdictions without life imprisonment, a convict who has served the given prison sentence is free upon release.

The length of time and the modalities surrounding parole vary greatly for each jurisdiction. In some places convicts are entitled to apply for parole relatively early, in others only after several decades. However, the time of legally being entitled to apply for parole does not often tell anything about the actual date of being granted parole. Article 110 of the Rome Statute
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court
The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court is the treaty that established the International Criminal Court . It was adopted at a diplomatic conference in Rome on 17 July 1998 and it entered into force on 1 July 2002. As of 13 October 2011, 119 states are party to the statute...

 of the International Criminal Court
International Criminal Court
The International Criminal Court is a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression .It came into being on 1 July 2002—the date its founding treaty, the Rome Statute of the...

 stipulates that for the gravest forms of crimes (e.g., war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide), a prisoner ought to serve two thirds of a fixed sentence, or 30 years in the case of life imprisonment. The highest determined prison sentence that can be imposed in the ICC is 40 years in prison, other than life imprisonment. After this period, the court shall then review the sentence to determine whether it should be reduced.

Unlike other areas of criminal law
Criminal law
Criminal law, is the body of law that relates to crime. It might be defined as the body of rules that defines conduct that is not allowed because it is held to threaten, harm or endanger the safety and welfare of people, and that sets out the punishment to be imposed on people who do not obey...

, sentences handed to minors
Minor (law)
In law, a minor is a person under a certain age — the age of majority — which legally demarcates childhood from adulthood; the age depends upon jurisdiction and application, but is typically 18...

 do not differ from those given to legal adult
Adult
An adult is a human being or living organism that is of relatively mature age, typically associated with sexual maturity and the attainment of reproductive age....

s. A few countries worldwide had allowed for minors to be given lifetime sentences that have no provision for eventual release. Countries that allow life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for juveniles include Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Belize, Brunei, Cuba, Dominica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, and the United States. Of these, only the United States currently has minors serving such sentences. As of 2009, Human Rights Watch had calculated that there were 2,589 youth offenders serving life without parole in the United States.

In 2010, the United States Supreme court ruled that sentencing minors to life without parole for crimes other than first-degree murder violated the 8th Amendment
Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution is the part of the United States Bill of Rights which prohibits the federal government from imposing excessive bail, excessive fines or cruel and unusual punishments. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that this amendment's Cruel and Unusual...

's ban on "cruel and unusual" punishment, in the case of Graham v. Florida
Graham v. Florida
Graham v. Florida was a decision by the Supreme Court of the United States, in 2010, in which it was held that juvenile offenders cannot be sentenced to life imprisonment without parole for non-homicide offenses. The court decided whether Roper v...

.

World view

Reform or abolition

In a number of countries, life imprisonment has been effectively abolished. The majority of countries whose governments have abolished both life imprisonment and indefinite imprisonment have been culturally influenced or colonized by Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

 or Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...

, and have written such prohibitions into the current constitutional law of these countries. The most populous nation-state to abolish all forms of life imprisonment is Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

; Article 84, paragraph 19 of the Brazilian Constitution sets a mandatory cap on prison terms at 30 years (ironically, this same article of the constitution allows for capital punishment in cases of treason, defection, mutiny and genocide during wartime).

A number of European countries have abolished all forms of indefinite imprisonment, including Serbia, Croatia, Spain and Bosnia and Herzegovina which set the maximum sentence at 40 years and Portugal which sets the maximum sentence at 25 years; Norway has abolished life imprisonment, but retains other forms of indefinite imprisonment. The only country in Asia have abolished all forms of indefinite imprisonment is Nepal; the Chinese dependency (Special Administrative Region) and former Portuguese colony of Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...

 also maintains a mandatory cap on prison sentences, having inherited the law from Portuguese rule. One African country, the Republic of the Congo
Republic of the Congo
The Republic of the Congo , sometimes known locally as Congo-Brazzaville, is a state in Central Africa. It is bordered by Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo , the Angolan exclave province of Cabinda, and the Gulf of Guinea.The region was dominated by...

, is known to have instituted a 30 years mandatory cap on prison sentence terms.

In South and Central America, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Colombia, Uruguay, Bolivia, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic have all abolished life imprisonment. The maximum sentence in Honduras is 40 years, 50 years in Costa Rica, 60 years in Colombia, 30 years in Nicaragua, El Salvador, Bolivia, Uruguay, and Venezuela, and 25 years in Ecuador.

In the United States, a 2009 report by the Sentencing Project
Sentencing Project
The Sentencing Project, based in Washington, D.C., promotes "more effective and humane" alternatives to prison for criminal offenders. It has produced several influential reports on inequalities in the U.S...

 suggested that life imprisonment without parole should be abolished, a suggestion that was met with opposition from law enforcement officials.

Overview by jurisdiction

Summary by country

Jurisdiction (link to details) Life imprisonment Minimum to serve before eligibility for requesting parole Maximum length of sentence (under life) Indefinite sentence (excl. preventive or psychiatric detainment) Mandatory sentence Possible other sentence Under age of 18 (or 21) Pardon, amnesty, other release
Abkhazia ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ??
Afghanistan Yes 25 years or never None Yes Murder, rape, robbery, sodomy Treason, drug trafficking Yes By President
Argentina Yes 20 years, or never None Yes Murder with aggravating circumstances; murder of a relative; murder of and/or by a police officer; treason Serial rape ?? By president or governor of a state (depending on jurisdiction)
Austria Yes 15 years None No Genocide Murder, leadership of a drug dealer gang, Nazi activism, production or distribution of chemical warfare agents to be used in armed conflict; abduction, robbery, rape and statutory rape if the crime causes the victim's death; sea and air piracy and arson if the crime causes the death of a large number of people Maximum 20 years Pardon by president
Australia Yes 10 years, 20 years, 25 years, or never; individually set by judge None Yes Murder of police officer or other public official, murder in South Australia, Queensland, Northern Territory, aircraft hijacking. Treason, terrorism, drug trafficking, rape, serious child sex offences Must have minimum term set (under 18) Compassionate release by Governor of state/Administrator of territory, or Governor-General
Azerbaijan Yes Never; usually pardon by President after 20–30 years None No Murder, terrorism, war crimes, genocide Drug trafficking, human trafficking, robbery, rape Yes By President
Belarus Yes 25 years None ?? ?? ?? Maximum 15 years ??
Belgium Yes 10 years, or 16 years if recidivist
Recidivism
Recidivism is the act of a person repeating an undesirable behavior after they have either experienced negative consequences of that behavior, or have been treated or trained to extinguish that behavior...

None ?? ?? ?? ?? ??
Belize Yes Never ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ??
Bolivia No (Except in Wartime Varies, depending on sentence 30 years No No life imprisonment sentence No life imprisonment sentence ?? No life imprisonment sentence
Bosnia and Herzegovina No Varies, depending on sentence 40 years No No life imprisonment sentence No life imprisonment sentence ?? No life imprisonment sentence
Brazil No (Except in Wartime) Varies, depending on sentence 30 years No No life imprisonment sentence No life imprisonment sentence ?? No life imprisonment sentence
Bulgaria Yes 20 years or never (depending on crime) None Yes None Aggravated murder, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery, treason, espionage, war crimes, genocide, desertion in wartime Maximum 12 years By President
Canada Yes 7–25 years None Yes High treason, murder, crimes against humanity
Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act
The Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act is a statute of the Parliament of Canada. The Act implements Canada's obligations under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court...

Drug trafficking, aggravated sexual assault, manslaughter, kidnapping, rioting, robbery, terrorism, war crimes Yes, when tried as an adult Compassionate release and pardon by minister of justice
Cape Verde No Varies, depending on sentence 25 years No No life imprisonment sentence No life imprisonment sentence ?? No life imprisonment sentence
Colombia No Varies, depending on sentence 60 years No No life imprisonment sentence No life imprisonment sentence ?? No life imprisonment sentence
Costa Rica No Varies, depending on sentence 50 years No No life imprisonment sentence No life imprisonment sentence ?? No life imprisonment sentence
Chile Yes 20 years, or never None Yes Murder ?? ?? By President
People's Republic of China
Life imprisonment in the People's Republic of China
Life imprisonment in the People's Republic of China is currently legal, but rarely applied. Since most crimes are punishable by death, life imprisonment is rarely applied. It is administered for repeated offenses and ordinary crimes. Those sentenced to life imprisonment have no possibility of...

Yes never None No No Various Yes By courts
Croatia
Life imprisonment in Croatia
, there is no life imprisonment in Croatia. The Criminal Code prescribes long-time imprisonment - 20 to 40 years - for the most severe criminal offenses...

No Varies, depending on sentence 40 years No No life imprisonment sentence No life imprisonment sentence No life imprisonment sentence No life imprisonment sentence
Cuba Yes Never; only pardon by president None No Murder, Drug trafficking ?? Yes By President
Cyprus Yes 20 years None ?? ?? ?? ?? ??
Czech Republic Yes 20 years None No None Some cases of murder, treason, terrorism, genocide, robbery, kidnapping, rape No life imprisonment sentence By President
Denmark Yes 12 years, or never None Yes ?? ?? Maximum 15 years After 12 years entitled to request to Minister of Justice; granted by King or Queen of Denmark
Dominican Republic No Varies, depending on sentence 30 years No No life imprisonment sentence No life imprisonment sentence 13-15 years (10 years) 16-17 years (15 years) No life imprisonment sentence
Ecuador No Varies, depending on sentence 25 years (35 years in exceptional cases) No No life imprisonment sentence No life imprisonment sentence ?? No life imprisonment sentence
El Salvador No (Except in wartime) Varies, depending on sentence 30 years No No life imprisonment sentence No life imprisonment sentence ?? No life imprisonment sentence
Egypt Yes Never None No Murder, Rape, Kidnapping, Terrorism Drug offenses Yes Pardon by president
Estonia Yes Never None Yes (de facto) ?? ?? Maximum length 10 years Pardon by president
Finland Yes 12 years for court release, any time for presidential pardon None Yes Murder, purposefully killing police officer Genocide, high treason, espionage, war crimes, homicidal terrorist act Maximum length 15 years (under age of 18); minimum 10 years for parole request (under age of 21) By president, Helsinki Court of Appeal
France Yes 18–22 years, 30 years, or never None Yes, but only if decided by court at sentencing None Aggravated murder, aggravated torture, treason, terrorism, drug trafficking, crimes against humanity, war crimes, rape Maximum length 20 years (under age of 16) By president, with countersignature from Prime minister and ministry of justice
Germany Yes 15 years None Yes, but only if decided by court at sentencing Murder, genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes See details 10 years By Federal President
President of Germany
The President of the Federal Republic of Germany is the country's head of state. His official title in German is Bundespräsident . Germany has a parliamentary system of government and so the position of President is largely ceremonial...

 or Minister-President
Hungary Yes 20–40 years, or never None Yes Murder, after 3 violent crimes Genocide, high treason No life imprisonment under 18; maximum length 15 years By president
Honduras No Varies, depending on sentence 40 years No No life imprisonment sentence No life imprisonment sentence ?? No life imprisonment sentence
Hong Kong Yes Individually set by judge None Yes Murder ?? Must have minimum term set By Chief Executive of Hong Kong, under the recommendation of Long Term Prison Sentences Review Board
Iceland Yes 15 years None No Murder, terorrism, drug and human trafficking, treason, torture Violent cases of a felony, smuggling (excluding drugs and humans) Maximum length 20 years in prison By President
India Yes 25 years or never; individually set by judge None Yes Murder, rape, robbery Kidnapping Yes May be pardoned by President or have sentence commuted by Government
Indonesia Yes Never None Yes Murder, terrorism, kidnapping, rape, treason ?? ?? By President
Ireland Yes 12–30 years or never; individually set by judge None Yes Murder, treason, some syringe injuries, etc. see details See details ?? By President
Israel Yes 13–30 years, or never None Yes 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...

Kidnapping child with intent to murder No By president
Italy Yes 21 years, 26 years, or never None Yes Murder, terrorism, mafia association, drug trafficking, human trafficking, treason Aggravated sexual assault, aggravated robbery, firearm trafficking Maximum length 20 years imprisonment under 16 By president
Jamaica Yes 10–30 years or never; individually set by judge None Yes ?? ?? ?? ??
Japan Yes 10 years or never None No Death sentence by instigation to a foreign aggression ?? Yes By Emperor
Kazakhstan Yes 25 years None Yes ?? ?? Maximum 20 years ??
Kiribati Yes 5–25 years, or never None ?? ?? ?? ?? ??
Kosovo ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ??
Laos Yes Never None Yes ?? ?? ?? ??
Latvia Yes 20 years None ?? ?? ?? ?? ??
Lebanon Yes Never None No Murder, terrorism, treason Drug trafficking and manufacturing Yes By President
Macau No Varies, depending on sentence 25 years (30 in exceptional circumstances) No No life imprisonment sentence No life imprisonment sentence ?? No life imprisonment sentence
Malaysia Yes 20 years or never None Yes Murder, drug offenses, serious firearms/ammunition/explosive offenses, terrorism, rape, sodomy, attack on monarch, violence to parliament, treason ?? ?? By King / Monarch / Federal Pardon Committee
Mexico
Life imprisonment in Mexico
Life imprisonment in Mexico is theoretically legal, but as of 2001, the Mexican Supreme Court stated that all persons sentenced to life imprisonment or a lengthy prison term must become eligible for parole after one has served 50 years. If an offender has maintained good behavior, they become...

No (exception of Chihuahua) Varies, depending on sentence 60 years No No life imprisonment sentence No life imprisonment sentence ?? No life imprisonment sentence
The Netherlands Yes Never None Yes (de facto) None Attack on monarch, violence to parliament, several facts constituting an offence resulting into death of (a) person(s) (not manslaughter), manslaughter in combination with other facts, facts with intent to terrorism, treason under 12: never prosecution
12–16: 10 year imprisonment max.
16–18: 20 years imprisonment max.
By monarch (almost never granted)
Nepal No Varies, depending on sentence 20 years No No life imprisonment sentence No life imprisonment sentence ?? No life imprisonment sentence
New Zealand Yes 10 years, 17 years, 20 years, or never; individually set by judge None Yes 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...

, treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...

Manslaughter
Manslaughter
Manslaughter is a legal term for the killing of a human being, in a manner considered by law as less culpable than murder. The distinction between murder and manslaughter is said to have first been made by the Ancient Athenian lawmaker Dracon in the 7th century BC.The law generally differentiates...

, certain drug related
Must have minimum term set (under 18) Sentence may be reduced or pardon granted by the Governor General (Rarely done)
Nicaragua No Varies, depending on sentence 30 years No No life imprisonment sentence No life imprisonment sentence ?? No life imprisonment sentence
Nigeria Yes Never None Yes ?? ?? No life imprisonment sentence ??
North Korea Yes Never None Yes (de facto and de jure) Murder, espionage, treason ?? Yes By president
Northern Cyprus Yes Never; Only pardon by President None Yes Murder, Drug trafficking, terrorism, treason Espionage, war crimes, mutiny, desertion Maximum sentence for murder is 24 years; only terrorism related cases Pardon by president; requires counter signature from Prime Minister and Minister of Justice
Norway No Varies, depending on sentence 30 years Yes No life imprisonment sentence No life imprisonment sentence ?? No life imprisonment sentence
Pakistan Yes 25 years None ?? ?? ?? ?? By President
Panama Yes 25 years None Yes Murder ?? Maximum 20 years By President
Paraguay No Varies, depending on sentence 25 years No No life imprisonment sentence No life imprisonment sentence ?? No life imprisonment sentence
Peru Yes Never None Yes Murder, terrorism ?? ?? By President
Poland Yes 25 years or more—individually set by judge None No None Genocide, war crimes, high treason, murder, assassination attempt of Polish president Maximum 25 years (under age of 18) Pardon by president , Amnesty by act of parliament (last amnesty in 1989)
Portugal No Varies, depending on sentence 25 years No No life imprisonment sentence No life imprisonment sentence ?? No life imprisonment sentence
Romania Yes 20 years None ?? ?? ?? ?? ??
Republic of the Congo No Varies, depending on sentence 30 years No No life imprisonment sentence No life imprisonment sentence ?? No life imprisonment sentence
Russia Yes 25 years None No No See details 10 years for all persons under age 18 By President
Saudi Arabia Yes Never None No Possession of alcohol, apostasy, cross dressing Homosexuality, Witchcraft, adultery, fornication Yes By King
Serbia No Varies, depending on sentence 40 years No No life imprisonment sentence No life imprisonment sentence ?? No life imprisonment sentence
Slovakia Yes 25 years None ?? ?? ?? ?? By President
Slovenia Yes 25 years None Yes Murder, treason ?? ?? By President
Somalia Yes Never None No Murder, rape, robbery Sodomy, adultery, crimes against humanity Yes By President
South Africa Yes 10, 15, or 25 years None No Certain murder, rape and robbery ?? ?? ??
South Korea Yes 10 years or never None ?? High treason, robbery (rape) with deadly outcomes, arson, murder of relative, etc. ?? Maximum 10 years (for certain violent crimes 20 years) By President and requires agreement of National Assembly
South Ossetia ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ??
Spain No Varies, depending on sentence 40 years No No life imprisonment sentence No life imprisonment sentence ?? No life imprisonment sentence
Syria Yes Never None No Murder, political crimes, terrorism, treason Drug offenses Yes By President
Sweden Yes 10 years or never None Yes None Murder, kidnapping, arson, war crimes, espionage, sabotage, violent robbery Life imprisonment sentence from 21 years By the District Court of Örebro.
Switzerland Yes 10 years or 15 years; individually set by judge None Yes None Aggravated murder, aggravated hostage-taking, genocide, endangering the independence of the country Maximum 4 years if aged 15–17 years (under 15 years, no imprisonment) By Federal Assembly (Parliament)
Republic of China (Taiwan) Yes 25 years
10–20 years before June 30, 2006
None Third violent crime Aggravated murder, hard drug trafficking Many violent crimes causing death, etc. Banned by Criminal Code By President
Turkey
Life imprisonment in Turkey
Life imprisonment in Turkey is a legal form of punishment and the most severe form of punishment. In most cases life imprisonment replaced capital punishment. Law 4771 of 3 August 2002 abolished the death penalty for peace time and replaced capital punishment with life imprisonment for 17...

Yes Never; only pardon by the Presdient None Yes Murder, drug trafficking, terrorism, treason Military offenses, espionage, piracy Life imprisonment for juveniles is commuted to sentences of up to 24 years By President in case of permanent illness, disability or decrepitude
UK: England and Wales Yes 15–40 years or never; individually set by judge None Yes Murder All common law offences
Common law offences
Common law offences are crimes under English criminal law and the related criminal law of Commonwealth of Nations countries. These are offences of the common law which are developed entirely by the courts over the years, and for which there is no actual legislation.The various common law offences...

, rape, inflicting GBH with intent, wounding with intent, treason, aggravated burglary, criminal Damage with intent to endanger life
No whole life tariff (under age of 21) Compassionate release and pardon by minister of justice; amnesty by royal decree alone or with act of parliament (last amnesty in 1747).
UK: Scotland Yes 15–35 years or never; individually set by judge None Yes Murder ?? No whole life tariff Compassionate release by Cabinet Secretary for Justice (Scottish Government); amnesty by royal decree alone or with act of parliament
UK: Northern Ireland Yes 15–35 years; individually set by judge None No Murder ?? ?? General release through a referendum based agreement
Belfast Agreement
The Good Friday Agreement or Belfast Agreement , sometimes called the Stormont Agreement, was a major political development in the Northern Ireland peace process...

 in 1998 (became applicable in 3 cases i, ii
Torrens Knight
Torrens Knight is a Northern Ireland loyalist and alleged police informer, who belonged to the "North Antrim & Londonderry Brigade" of the Ulster Defence Association . He was part of the UDA unit that carried out the Greysteel massacre where eight people lost their lives...

, iii)
Ukraine Yes 25 years ?? No Murder with aggravating circumstances ?? Maximum 15 yers By President
United States Yes 15–35 years, or never (depending on crime) None Yes Varies by state Varies by state Life without parole is not allowed for offenders under 18 except in cases of murder. The felony murder rule
Felony murder rule
The rule of felony murder is a legal doctrine in some common law jurisdictions that broadens the crime of murder in two ways. First, when an offender kills accidentally or without specific intent to kill in the course of an applicable felony, what might have been manslaughter is escalated to murder...

 applies.
By president or governor of a state (depending on jurisdiction)
Uruguay No Varies, depending on sentence 30 years No No life imprisonment sentence No life imprisonment sentence ?? No life imprisonment sentence
Uzbekistan Yes 25 years None ?? Murder with aggravating circumstances, terrorism ?? ?? ??
Vatican City Yes Never None No Assassination of the pope, attempted assassination of the pope, terrorism, treason, murder Drug trafficking, human trafficking, firearm trafficking Yes in certain cases By Pope
Venezuela No Varies, depending on sentence 30 years No No life imprisonment sentence No life imprisonment sentence ?? No life imprisonment sentence
Vietnam Yes Never None Yes (de jure) ?? ?? Under 18: maximum 18 years imprisonment, under 16: maximum 14 years imprisonment jail Usually amnesty after 20–30 years

See also

  • 10-20-Life
    10-20-Life
    The 10-20-Life law is a mandatory minimum sentencing law in the U.S. state of Florida. It primarily regards the use of a firearm in committing a violent felony. The law's name comes from a set of three basic minimum sentences it provides for...

  • Incapacitation
    Incapacitation (penology)
    Incapacitation in the context of sentencing philosophy refers to the effect of a sentence in terms of positively preventing future offending....

  • Indefinite prison sentence
  • Use of capital punishment by nation

External links

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