Virtual Life Sentences: An Exploratory Study

Jessica S. Henry; Christopher Salvatore; Bai Eyse Pugh

doi:10.1177/0032885518764915

Virtual Life Sentences: An Exploratory Study

Jessica S. Henry, Christopher Salvatore, Bai Eyse Pugh

Justice Studies

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Virtual life sentences are sentences with a term of years that exceed an individual’s natural life expectancy. This exploratory study is one of the first to collect data that establish the existence, prevalence, and scope of virtual life sentences in state prisons in the United States. Initial data reveal that more than 31,000 people in 26 states are serving virtual life sentences for violent and nonviolent offenses, and suggest racial disparities in the distribution of these sentences. This study also presents potential policy implications and suggestions for future research.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	294-313
Number of pages	20
Journal	Prison Journal
Volume	98
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/0032885518764915
State	Published - 1 Jun 2018

Keywords

death penalty
death-in-prison sentences
life sentences
life without parole
punishment

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1177/0032885518764915

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AU - Salvatore, Christopher

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AB - Virtual life sentences are sentences with a term of years that exceed an individual’s natural life expectancy. This exploratory study is one of the first to collect data that establish the existence, prevalence, and scope of virtual life sentences in state prisons in the United States. Initial data reveal that more than 31,000 people in 26 states are serving virtual life sentences for violent and nonviolent offenses, and suggest racial disparities in the distribution of these sentences. This study also presents potential policy implications and suggestions for future research.

KW - death penalty

KW - death-in-prison sentences

KW - life sentences

KW - life without parole

KW - punishment

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Virtual Life Sentences: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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