Skip to start of content

Home → Publications → Reports → Trends and issues → Life imprisonment in Australia

Trends & Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice

No. 19: Life imprisonment in Australia

Ivan Potas
ISBN 0 642 14743 4 ; ISSN 0817-8542
August 1989

Abstract

The history of life imprisonment demonstrates that this sentence does not ordinarily mean imprisonment until death. Potas presents statistics on which offenders receive life sentences and the average term served. He compares indeterminate and determinate sentences, and discretionary and mandatory sentences, with special reference to murder and drug trafficking. He also discusses legislation; truth in sentencing; and recommendations that a prisoner never be released.

References