Virtual life prison sentences or de facto life sentences

What is it about?

Virtual life sentences are prison sentences that are longer than a person's natural life expectancy. There are thousands of people who will die in prison serving sentences that can never be completed. We are among the first to collect data that captures the scope and prevalence of virtual life sentences in state prisons in the United State, and to discuss the policy implications of this often oerlooked population.

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Why is it important?

In discussions about severe sentences, we often talk about the death penalty or life without parole. But there are thousands of people serving virtual life sentences, such as those serving 50 years in prison, who will die witout ever being able to complete their sentence. These often overlooked "virtual lifers" raise important questions for our sentencing practices and policies.