I feel that this sentence is contrary to the purpose of prison which is to reform and rehabilitate. This sentence destroys hope and takes away any need for the inmate to become a productive individual. Why take the classes or seek counseling if in the end there is nothing to look forward to but a life and ultimately death behind bars. This sentence is both physically and mentally taxing on the individual.

Life Without Parole IS another form of the DEATH PENALTY, no matter how the law wants to classify it. The minute the man or woman is sentenced to LWOP they are sentenced to death and will die within the prison walls. Pope Francis states that it is “...a death penalty in disguise.”

Life Without Parole should be abolished, those that are currently serving this sentence should be commuted, be provided a review of their case and be given a release date. Those that have served 25 years or more should be released. It is an accepted fact that people age out of violent and other criminal behavior. By doing away with LWOP and giving the offender a release date it can give him or her a reason and desire for rehabilitation.

25 years- time served. How many people would be released and be allowed to go back to the family that just wants their loved one home and allow the individual to become a better and more productive member of society. How many people would no longer be under the care of the state or federal prison systems? How much money would that save the taxpayers?

*** How many people are currently in prison serving Life Without Parole? More than 50,000

***What is the yearly cost on average per inmate? $31,000 per year

50,000 Prisoners x 25 Years x $31,000 / Year =$38,750,000,000

$38,750,000,000 to take care of the 50,000 LWOP inmates for 25 years.

I’m not saying crimes should be overlooked; that the proverbial “slap on the wrist” is appropriate punishment. LWOP gives the courts too much liberty to unreasonably punish a crime. By taking away all hope for the individual, giving them nothing to work for. The chances of ever walking out and back into freedom are gone; something remarkable, even miraculous, has to happen to help those unfortunate enough to be given this type of sentence.. These people- some 50,000 of them- are being murdered by the system. Every member of the senate, the governors, the president of the United States has the blood of these souls on their hands.

It is time to rethink Life Without Parole. It is time for true justice reform. Stop LWOP on the state and federal level now.