The meaning of 'life': a study of life sentences in Australia

Abstract

This study arose from the need to clarify, both in the minds of those administering the criminal justice system and those undergoing life or purportedly equivalent sentences, what is meant by the 'life' sentence. When a prisoner is sentenced to 'life' his first question would probably be 'how long is life?'.

The meaning of 'life': a study of life sentences in Australia: a postscript Download report (pdf 120kB, 11 pages)

In the few months since the publication of this report a number of interesting developments have occurred in Victoria, the State where capital punishment has been most recently abolished. This 'postscript' provides commentary on these developments.