What Does a Life Sentence Mean?

What does a life sentence mean? This question has been on a courtroom docket and in many written legal publications for years. It is one of the most difficult questions a judge or jury will have to answer and one that affects the entire lives of the people accused of a crime. It is also one of the most controversial and, as such, there are very few case reports floating around out there about what it means to be “sentenced to life.”

Simply put, a life sentence is a prison sentence for crimes, of whatever nature: Life imprisonment can encompass the loss of liberty, as well as time served in jail. Death row is also a form of life imprisonment. As death row is reserved for the execution of the condemned, it is generally the end of a person’s life sentence. Thus, a life sentence and its implications can be a very chilling prospect for anyone who faces it.

The ultimate punishment reserved for criminals is death: However, the law distinguishes between those who die in prison from those who die of “natural causes.” The difference between the two makes the term much more vague than it would otherwise be. Generally, death row is reserved for executions that occur in cells with limited human contact and no other means by which to kill the prisoner. Prison inmates who die naturally of old age are not entitled to the same mercy as those who die in prison, nor are they afforded the same rights regarding compensation for wrongful death.

Although a sentence of life in prison means the end of one’s earthly life: it is also used to describe the end of one’s social life. If the offender has been in prison for quite some time, then he or she is ineligible for parole. Parole is a benefit provided to an offender after his or her serving a sentence for at least one year in a secure, supervised facility. Parole may be denied if one has been involved in criminal activities or if he or she poses a significant risk of harm to other people.

For some, what does a life sentence mean is the death of one’s chance for freedom: Capital offenses such as homicide, kidnapping, arson, rape, burglary, theft, conspiracy, assault, and many other capital crimes are all subjected to the possibility of the death penalty. However, there is no legal stipulation or constitutional guarantee that an individual serving time for capital crimes will die in jail. If one is resentenced to life imprisonment, however, even one small mistake can mean the end of one’s chances for freedom.

Often, what does a life sentence mean is a sentence of one year to life: This, however, is often rare. One most common way to achieve this result is through a post-conviction lawyer who will work to have the appropriate collateral put in place, allowing the courts to consider the possibility of the prisoner serving time in prison before handing down a death sentence.

This is something that all death penalty cases need, as many people who would benefit from the extra time spent behind bars never had a chance to get a fair trial.