Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

Re: life term

In California, a person sentenced to a "life" term is eligible for parole after 7 years. Whether they actually get paroled is another story. (A sentence like this is sometimes referred to as "life with the possibility of parole.)

Other sentences can include a number of years to life. In that situation, the number of years determines the minimum eligibility for parole. For example, second degree murder (without other sentencing enhancements such as weapons use, etc.) carries a sentence of 15 to life. The person must serve 15 before being eligible for parole consideration.

The other "life" is "life without possibility of parole" or LWOP. That truly is a life sentence and the person will be incarcerated for their entire natural life without being eligible to be paroled.

Re: life term

By definition, a life sentence lasts until the convict dies. It is not a specific number of years.