Life sentences are among the most severe punishments that courts can impose on offenders in criminal cases. They are often given to those found guilty of the most heinous crimes, such as murder, and are intended to ensure that they spend the rest of their lives behind bars. However, there is another type of life sentence that is becoming increasingly common in recent years – consecutive life sentences. In this article, we will take a closer look at the definition of consecutive life sentences, and examine some recent popular cases where they have been applied.
What are Consecutive Life Sentences?
A consecutive life sentence is a sentencing option available to courts in some jurisdictions where a defendant is found guilty of multiple offenses that are punishable by life sentences. When a judge determines that the offender deserves more than one life sentence, they may choose to sentence them to consecutive life sentences. In this context, “consecutive” means that the offender must serve each of the life sentences one after another, rather than concurrently.
It is important to note that not all jurisdictions allow for consecutive life sentences and that the specifics of the law vary depending on where the case is being tried. In some states, such as Louisiana and California, mandatory life without parole is a possible sentence for certain crimes, so the use of consecutive life sentences is not as common there. In other jurisdictions, such as Texas and Oklahoma, consecutive life sentences are more prevalent.
Recent Cases
1. Ariel Castro Case
One of the most significant recent cases where consecutive life sentences were applied was the Ariel Castro case. Castro was a former Cleveland school bus driver who kidnapped three young women – Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry, and Gina DeJesus – and held them captive in his home for over a decade. During this time, he repeatedly raped and assaulted the women and forced them to endure horrific living conditions. In 2013, Castro was arrested after one of the women, Amanda Berry, managed to escape and alert the authorities.
2. Ted Bundy Ted Bundy is one of the most notorious serial killers in American history. Between 1974 and 1978, Bundy raped and murdered at least 30 young women and girls in several states, including Washington, Utah, Colorado, and Florida. Bundy was captured in 1978 and put on trial for the murder of two Florida State University sorority sisters. Bundy was convicted and sentenced to death. However, he was able to delay his execution by appealing his case multiple times.
Many people question the purpose and the necessity of handing a convict a consecutive life sentence. The term “life imprisonment” implies that a criminal will spend the rest of their life behind bars. As long as they are living, a convict who has been sentenced to life imprisonment will remain captive in a prison cell in order to keep the public safe from any harm that they may present to society.
Therefore, a consecutive life sentence seems unnecessarily redundant. Individuals often wonder as to how a criminal can serve more then one sentence of life imprisonment when the term “life sentence” indicates that a criminal will remain in prison until they die.
In order to understand why judges condemn a criminal to a consecutive life sentence it is important to understand the nature of life imprisonment. A consecutive life sentence occurs when a convict is required to complete a second life sentence after the first life sentence has been concluded. This may seem absurd, but reviewing the information and statistics related to life imprisonment will help an individual to understand the necessity of a consecutive life sentence.
The term “life imprisonment” is often misleading and deceptive. Contrary to popular belief, a life sentence does not necessarily mean that a criminal will spend the rest of their life in jail. When a judge condemns a convict to a life sentence, he/she will also determine whether or not the prisoner will be eligible for parolewithout chance of release.
However, in many instances, a convict will be granted the possibility of receiving parole. Some states, such as Alaska and New Mexico, prohibit a criminal from being sentenced to life without the chance of release. Therefore, it is possible for a murderer to once again walk the streets and pose a threat to individuals in the community. A consecutive life sentence will help to ensure that a dangerous criminal remains behind bars.
In most cases, life imprisonment means that a criminal must serve between fifteen to twenty years of their sentence before they will be considered for parole. If a criminal was handed a consecutive life sentence, then they will need to complete another twenty years before they are eligible for release, making it a total of forty years served before the convict will be considered for parole. Condemning a prisoner to multiple life sentences will ensure that the offenders are not considered for parole and are not released into the community.
In general, an offender will be handed a life sentence for each crime that they have committed that warrants life in prison. Therefore, if a perpetrator is responsible for murdering three people, then the offender may receive three life sentences. Many people believe that giving a convict multiple life sentences helps to console the victim’s family members because the offender has received a punishment for each specific crime that they have committed. In this respect, multiple life sentences are often extremely beneficial and reassuring.
It is possible for a convict to appeal their sentence. If one of the life sentences is overturned during the appeal process, then other life sentences have been passed in order to ensure that the criminal spends a long time in prison. A consecutive life sentence also accentuates the extent and the severity of the crimes that the offender committed.
Many people question the purpose and the necessity of handing a convict a consecutive life sentence. The term “life imprisonment” implies that a criminal will spend the rest of their life behind bars. As long as they are living, a convict who has been sentenced to life imprisonment will remain captive in a prison cell in order to keep the public safe from any harm that they may present to society.
Therefore, a consecutive life sentence seems unnecessarily redundant. Individuals often wonder as to how a criminal can serve more then one sentence of life imprisonment when the term “life sentence” indicates that a criminal will remain in prison until they die.
In order to understand why judges condemn a criminal to a consecutive life sentence it is important to understand the nature of life imprisonment. A consecutive life sentence occurs when a convict is required to complete a second life sentence after the first life sentence has been concluded. This may seem absurd, but reviewing the information and statistics related to life imprisonment will help an individual to understand the necessity of a consecutive life sentence.
The term “life imprisonment” is often misleading and deceptive. Contrary to popular belief, a life sentence does not necessarily mean that a criminal will spend the rest of their life in jail. When a judge condemns a convict to a life sentence, he/she will also determine whether or not the prisoner will be eligible for parolewithout chance of release.
However, in many instances, a convict will be granted the possibility of receiving parole. Some states, such as Alaska and New Mexico, prohibit a criminal from being sentenced to life without the chance of release. Therefore, it is possible for a murderer to once again walk the streets and pose a threat to individuals in the community. A consecutive life sentence will help to ensure that a dangerous criminal remains behind bars.
In most cases, life imprisonment means that a criminal must serve between fifteen to twenty years of their sentence before they will be considered for parole. If a criminal was handed a consecutive life sentence, then they will need to complete another twenty years before they are eligible for release, making it a total of forty years served before the convict will be considered for parole. Condemning a prisoner to multiple life sentences will ensure that the offenders are not considered for parole and are not released into the community.
In general, an offender will be handed a life sentence for each crime that they have committed that warrants life in prison. Therefore, if a perpetrator is responsible for murdering three people, then the offender may receive three life sentences. Many people believe that giving a convict multiple life sentences helps to console the victim’s family members because the offender has received a punishment for each specific crime that they have committed. In this respect, multiple life sentences are often extremely beneficial and reassuring.
It is possible for a convict to appeal their sentence. If one of the life sentences is overturned during the appeal process, then other life sentences have been passed in order to ensure that the criminal spends a long time in prison. A consecutive life sentence also accentuates the extent and the severity of the crimes that the offender committed.
