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But those sentences are extremely rare and reserved for violent psychopaths. Norway currently has 76 people serving one. In the US, it's possible and not even
by jpatokal 10y ago
But those sentences are extremely rare and reserved for violent psychopaths. Norway currently has 76 people serving one.
In the US, it's possible and not even that rare to end up with life sentences for things like non-violent drugs offenses and repeated petty theft (three strikes), so there are >150,000 people with actual life sentences. Plus all the people serving something like 80 years, which is notionally definite, but in practice also a life sentence.
- toomanybeersies 10y agoI linked this just the other day, and it's relevant again. Life in prison for stealing a pair of socks: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/cruel-and-unusual-punishment-the-shame-of-three-strikes-laws-20130327 http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/cruel-and-unusual-... If that's not manifestly unjust, I don't know what is. I have no idea how 3 strikes laws and mandatory minimums are constitutional in the USA, I'm no constitutional scholar (or American), but I'm fairly sure that it violates separation of powers. Regardless, the above link is a very good reason for judicial discretion, among other reasons.