Mass Incarceration Trends – The Sentencing Project
Written by Black Hot Fire Network on February 26, 2025
Life and Long-Term Imprisonment
Mass incarceration’s toll on human dignity is no more apparent than with the staggering proliferation of life sentences; today one in seven imprisoned people is serving a life sentence. Life sentences have consistently been included as a sentencing option, but their use expanded dramatically during the era of mass incarceration. Historically, life sentences came with the expectation of release; they were used to encourage good behavior among people who were incarcerated. Individuals were typically released in 10-15 years through parole or executive clemency.
Figure 10. The Growth of Life Sentences, 1992 . . .
