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General Discussion & Feedback => Just Chat! => Topic started by: stana on 09/01/2008 13:32:34

Title: Whats the deal with death in U.S prisons??
Post by: stana on 09/01/2008 13:32:34

Hey guys. Ive noticed that, in America, you can only get something like 100 or 150 years in prison..not life??

A) Can i get life?
B) Iv'e heard that the state (when you die) Bury you in a crimal grave yard..and then when your sentance is done, your dug up and put in a normal grave yard.

My knowledge on this isnt too good..im in england and ive never been to america, so im hoping one of you can help me [:)]

Thanks

Title: Whats the deal with death in U.S prisons??
Post by: another_someone on 09/01/2008 14:11:09

Life in the UK normally does not mean the whole life spent in prison (it can be as short as a couple of years).  There are a handful of people who do get whole life sentences (e.g. Ian Huntley), but most lifers serve a limited time in prison, but then spend the rest of their life of parole, with the threat of being put back into prison at any time if they break their parole conditions.

Many US States on the other hand have the death penalty, and would use that where we might use a life sentence, and so that is in effect a whole life sentence, it is merely a truncated life.

Title: Whats the deal with death in U.S prisons??
Post by: stana on 09/01/2008 14:13:38

Thanks..But what about the burial bit..

Title: Whats the deal with death in U.S prisons??
Post by: another_someone on 09/01/2008 14:40:25

No idea what the Americans do about burying criminals.

It used to be that even in this country criminals (at least, those given death sentences) were buried within the prison grounds.  Possibly the church would not have wished them to be buried in consecrated ground, and in any case they were seen as outcasts, people who should not be returned to the community even when dead.  If they were paupers, it may even have been that the family could not afford a funeral.

Title: Whats the deal with death in U.S prisons??
Post by: stana on 09/01/2008 15:02:29

paupers??

Explain?

Title: Whats the deal with death in U.S prisons??
Post by: Mirage on 09/01/2008 16:32:28

He possibly means this

Quote

particularly the condition of being a "pauper", i.e. in receipt of relief administered under the poor law. From this springs a more general sense, referring to all those who are supported at public expense

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pauperism

Title: Whats the deal with death in U.S prisons??
Post by: Karen W. on 09/01/2008 16:55:27

Yes people not having much money or financial ability to accommodate for burial. I honestly don't know the burial procedure here. I imagine the family can choose but I am not at all sure.

Title: Whats the deal with death in U.S prisons??
Post by: stana on 09/01/2008 16:56:49

Okay. Thanks!

Title: Whats the deal with death in U.S prisons??
Post by: Karen W. on 09/01/2008 16:58:34

Your Welcome...Its a good question!