I read that they sentenced the El Paso Walmart shooter to 90 consecutive life sentences. How does that make sense since we know he won't live anywhere near that long? Isn't one life sentence without parole enough? Why don't they just say life in prison just to make it simpler?
While there are many differences among the states on life sentences, there are two basic categories of life sentences in the judicial system.
Determinate life sentence is defined as a life sentence with no way to shorten the sentence. That means the prisoner cannot be released for parole, good behavior or any other reason beyond winning an appeal.
Indeterminate life sentence is defined by a life sentence with the possibility of being released on parole or through good behavior. Sometimes indeterminate sentences contain a number of years before the life sentence part, as in 25 years to life. This timeframe gives the judge leeway for assigning the minimum years, as well as the point at which the possibility of parole can be reached.
So I guess multiple life sentences makes it difficult to appeal all of them and insures that the motherfucker will die in prison.
u If someone received 90 life sentences, then they committed 90 separate crimes (though all 90 may have occurred in one episode.) If there is an appeal on one of those convictions, and the sentence is vacated, the person still has 89 other life sentences that will keep him or her in prison for the rest of their life.
I think it's to reassure the victim survivors and families the criminal will never be let out of prison and to make them feel validated that the suffering of each victim is adequately acknowledged.
Life in prison should be an automatic death penalty so we don't waste taxpayer money keeping them alive.
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In most cases, there are minimum and recommended sentencing guidelines that the judge must follow. If a person is found guilty of committing X crimes, and each crime requires a minimum jail term of Y years, then the guilty party is sentenced to X*Y years in jail.
In heinous crimes, an astronomical number of life sentences may also be given by the court to prevent any possibility of parole.
Its more to send a message that he will never get out of prison. A life sentence does not always mean life in prison. A life sentence is a minimum of 25 years. That means in theory, he could get out in 25 years. Stacking the life sentences makes it so he will never get out.
Personally i would be happy if they brought back cruel punishment for people who murder, molest, and rape. I am talking days long torture sessions before killing them.
Very simple, because a single life sentence would actually allow for parole after a certain number of years. I was told it was 7 when I was younger. By giving large number of life sentences back to back that number of years is longer. For example if it was 7 years per life sentence in this case, 90 life sentences would mean him waiting 630 years for parole. Truly ensuring a true lifetime in prison.
Consecutive sentences are usually handed to the worst of the worst. Also, as @OlderAndWiser pointed out, this means that he will serve the rest of his life even if individual life sentences were to be vacated.
Because they're not held to account for it. You sentence someone to seven consecutive life sentences, you should be required to HOLD him for seven times the length of his life.
Make them make sense, and they will.
Sends a message regarding particularly serious crimes. That would have been a textbook capital punishment case, but 90 life sentences is also appropriate.
They said the same thing in Shawshank Redemption. The judge said to Andy Dufresne, “By the power vested in me, I order you to serve two life sentences back to back. One for each of your victims. So be it!”
because the laws always apply in principle. principles don't have to be adjusted to individual circumstance. because then if someone somehow miraculously lives for an astronomical ammount of years, then the law does not have to be reajusted.
If one charge gets thrown out/overturned/remanded, the other sentences for other charges make sure he'll stay there.
This is 'Murrica! Things here have to be big!!!
It relates to each count of an offence. Its to placate the public and the victims (or relatives thereof), so there's no accusations of impropriety.
Simples...
Absolutely no chance they will ever get out of prison.
1) it’s to make sure each victim or crime is represented.
2) life sentences can still have parole.
I guess it is because the is being sentence for each offence separately, it is the same in the UK.
It is proforma for one life sentence to be given for each life taken, or life changing injury inflicted, that is why you see multiple counts of the same offence on the charge sheet
They want to let everyone know how angry they are.
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