NCJ Number
154177
Date Published
1995
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This report presents statistical information on inmates serving life sentences in England and Wales, including offenses for which they were imprisoned and the length of time served until parole.
Abstract
On June 30, 1994, 3,081 male inmates and 111 female inmates were serving life sentences in England and Wales. Life imprisonment is the mandatory sentence for murder. It is also the maximum sentence for a number of other offenses, including manslaughter, armed robbery, wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, arson, rape, kidnapping, and causing an explosion. The number of life sentence inmates on June 30, 1994, was 65 percent higher than the equivalent figure for 1984 (n=1,930). This increase has been due partly to an increase in admissions of life-sentence inmates and partly to longer average times spent in prison before parole. A life sentence is indeterminate. The average period of detention after sentence for the 88 lifers released in 1992 was 13.2 years, compared with 10.2 years in 1982. Inmates serving life sentences who are released from custody remain on license for the rest of their lives. Although supervision may be terminated by the Home Secretary, lifers may be recalled to prison at any time should circumstances warrant it. A person aged 18 or over at the time of an offense but under 21 years old on conviction is sentenced to custody for life if convicted of murder and may be sentenced to custody for life if convicted of an offense for which life imprisonment is the maximum penalty for an adult. Lifers under 22 years old may be held in a young offender institution rather than a prison. 1 table