The Life-without-Parole Sanction: Its Current Status and a Research Agenda

Abstract

As of January 1, 1987, 29 states have life-without-parole statutes. These laws are divided into capital offender statutes that most commonly apply the sanction for aggravated homicide, and career criminal statutes that apply the sanction to repeat offenders under specified conditions. Although both types are life-without-parole statutes, they are directed at two very different offender populations and probably arise from divergent social and political conditions. Further, the capacity of the executive to release through commutation makes the life-without-parole statutes less substantial than is commonly believed. Some of the problems that increased use of this sanction may create are discussed, and a research agenda to prepare for these problems before they arrive is suggested.

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