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 | |
| State | Published - 1 Jun 2018 |
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Keywords
- death penalty
- death-in-prison sentences
- life sentences
- life without parole
- punishment
Cite this
}
Virtual Life Sentences : An Exploratory Study. / Henry, Jessica S; Salvatore, Christopher; Pugh, Bai Eyse.
In: Prison Journal, Vol. 98, No. 3, 01.06.2018, p. 294-313.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Virtual Life Sentences
T2 - An Exploratory Study
AU - Henry, Jessica S
AU - Salvatore, Christopher
AU - Pugh, Bai Eyse
PY - 2018/6/1
Y1 - 2018/6/1
N2 - 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.
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
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85045290608&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0032885518764915
DO - 10.1177/0032885518764915
M3 - Article
VL - 98
SP - 294
EP - 313
JO - Prison Journal
JF - Prison Journal
SN - 0032-8855
IS - 3
ER -