In judicial practice, back-to-back life sentences, also called consecutive life sentences,[1][2] are two or more consecutive life sentences given to a convicted felon. This practice is used to ensure the felon will never be released from prison.
This is a common punishment for a defendant convicted of multiple murders in the United States. Depending on the jurisdiction in which the case is tried, a defendant receiving a life sentence may become eligible for parole after serving a minimum length of time, on the order of 15–25 years. If a back-to-back penalty is imposed, the defendant must serve that minimum for every life sentence before parole can be granted. Such a penalty also ensures that even if some of the murder convictions are overturned on appeal, the defendant must still serve the sentences for the ones left standing.
Other countries either allow multiple concurrent life sentences which can be served at the same time (e.g. Russia), or allow multiple consecutive life sentences with a single minimum term (e.g. Australia), thus allowing earlier release of the prisoner.
In Canada, after December 2, 2011, it became possible for multiple periods of parole ineligibility to be imposed for multiple first-degree murders. The mandatory penalty for first-degree murder is life imprisonment with 25 years' ineligibility for parole. Due to the addition of section 745.51[3] to the Criminal Code of Canada, a judge was permitted to stack multiple 25-year periods of parole ineligibility to account for multiple victims. Before doing this, the judge had to consider a jury's recommendation to this effect.[4] The life sentences were not served consecutively (back to back) but the multiple periods of parole ineligibility led to a similar result. The longest period of parole ineligibility was 75 years, handed out to four offenders: Justin Bourque (later reduced to 25 years), John Paul Ostamas, Douglas Garland and Derek Saretzky.
Section 745.51 was found to be unconstitutional by the Quebec Superior Court and Quebec Court of Appeal in the case of Alexandre Bissonnette; and the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed the Crown's appeal in May 2022, finding multiple periods of parole ineligibility for first degree murder to be unconstitutional.[5] The Supreme Court of Canada's declaration of constitutional invalidity meant that section 745.51 was struck down retroactively to its enactment in 2011. The applicable law now is therefore the law that existed prior to 2011, which is a mandatory penalty of life imprisonment with 25 years' ineligibility for parole regardless of how many murders are committed.
The Criminal Code permits consecutive (back to back) sentences for other types of offences[6] which results in extended parole ineligibility for those offences.[7]
back, back, life, sentences, also, list, people, sentenced, more, than, life, imprisonment, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, . See also List of people sentenced to more than one life imprisonment This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Back to back life sentences news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2022 Learn how and when to remove this message In judicial practice back to back life sentences also called consecutive life sentences 1 2 are two or more consecutive life sentences given to a convicted felon This practice is used to ensure the felon will never be released from prison This is a common punishment for a defendant convicted of multiple murders in the United States Depending on the jurisdiction in which the case is tried a defendant receiving a life sentence may become eligible for parole after serving a minimum length of time on the order of 15 25 years If a back to back penalty is imposed the defendant must serve that minimum for every life sentence before parole can be granted Such a penalty also ensures that even if some of the murder convictions are overturned on appeal the defendant must still serve the sentences for the ones left standing Other countries either allow multiple concurrent life sentences which can be served at the same time e g Russia or allow multiple consecutive life sentences with a single minimum term e g Australia thus allowing earlier release of the prisoner Contents 1 By nation 1 1 Canada 2 See also 3 ReferencesBy nation editCanada edit In Canada after December 2 2011 it became possible for multiple periods of parole ineligibility to be imposed for multiple first degree murders The mandatory penalty for first degree murder is life imprisonment with 25 years ineligibility for parole Due to the addition of section 745 51 3 to the Criminal Code of Canada a judge was permitted to stack multiple 25 year periods of parole ineligibility to account for multiple victims Before doing this the judge had to consider a jury s recommendation to this effect 4 The life sentences were not served consecutively back to back but the multiple periods of parole ineligibility led to a similar result The longest period of parole ineligibility was 75 years handed out to four offenders Justin Bourque later reduced to 25 years John Paul Ostamas Douglas Garland and Derek Saretzky Section 745 51 was found to be unconstitutional by the Quebec Superior Court and Quebec Court of Appeal in the case of Alexandre Bissonnette and the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed the Crown s appeal in May 2022 finding multiple periods of parole ineligibility for first degree murder to be unconstitutional 5 The Supreme Court of Canada s declaration of constitutional invalidity meant that section 745 51 was struck down retroactively to its enactment in 2011 The applicable law now is therefore the law that existed prior to 2011 which is a mandatory penalty of life imprisonment with 25 years ineligibility for parole regardless of how many murders are committed The Criminal Code permits consecutive back to back sentences for other types of offences 6 which results in extended parole ineligibility for those offences 7 See also editIncapacitation penology Life imprisonmentReferences edit Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles Guidelines Life Sentences What are Consecutive Life Sentences criminal laws com https laws lois justice gc ca eng acts C 46 section 745 51 html text 745 51 20 1 20At 20the 20time having 20regard 20to 20the 20character Government of Canada Criminal Code R S C 1985 c C 46 archived from the original on August 17th 2015 https www canlii org en ca scc doc 2022 2022scc23 2022scc23 html autocompleteStr Bissonnette amp autocompletePos 1 amp resultId 753388c92649487b9bce9ff00a0644d8 amp searchId c2a6a9a84ce84c4e84ff80544df9066d https www ontario ca page sentences criminal justice system text Consecutive 20sentences Consecutive 20sentences 20are amp text The 20Criminal 20Code 20of 20Canada the 20sentences 20to 20be 20concurrent https www publicsafety gc ca cnt rsrcs pblctns 2021 sntnc clcltn fstfcts 05 index en aspx nbsp This crime related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Back to back life sentences amp oldid 1214588658, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
