Legal Question in Criminal Law in New York

to life

what does it means exactly when someone receives 10 to life, 15 to life, etc


Asked on 6/01/08, 9:39 am

2 Answers from Attorneys

Carlos Gonzalez Gonzalez Legal Associates PLLC

Re: to life

it means that the minimum the person could serve would be ten years, and the maximum... life. This means the person becomes eligible for parole around ten years from incarceration and then it is up to the parole board to decide whether he is released or not - on average, here in NYC someone serving 15 to life serves quite a few more years than the recommended minimum... and if the crime is particularly violent then may be looking at huge amounts of time as a result, this is called indeterminate sentencing... determinate sentencing is when there is a fixed number of years the person will serve, this usually works out best for the defendnat as on average in NY you know that if it is a violent crime you plea guilty to then you will serve 10 months out of every year, and if it is a non violent crime then only 8 months of every year...

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Answered on 6/01/08, 9:47 am
Anthony Colleluori The Law Offices of Anthony J. Colleluori & Associates PLLC

Re: to life

They do the minimum number and can be paroled at anytime thereafter or never as the case may be.

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Answered on 6/01/08, 11:09 am


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