There are 37 'whole life tariff' prisoners in England and Wales
There are 37 'whole life tariff' prisoners in England and Wales
By Finlo Rohrer BBC News Magazine Steve Wright and Levi Bellfield have joined the ranks of Britain's "whole life tariff" prisoners, but what effect does being told you will never be released have?
By Finlo Rohrer BBC News Magazine Steve Wright and Levi Bellfield have joined the ranks of Britain's "whole life tariff" prisoners, but what effect does being told you will never be released have?
Before this month there were only 35 "whole life tariff" prisoners in England and Wales, so two more in a week is a significant event.
Before this month there were only 35 "whole life tariff" prisoners in England and Wales, so two more in a week is a significant event.
Since the tariff system was introduced in 1983, allowing the home secretary to set the minimum sentence that someone jailed for life would have to serve, the "whole life tariff" has been used sparingly.
Since the tariff system was introduced in 1983, allowing the home secretary to set the minimum sentence that someone jailed for life would have to serve, the "whole life tariff" has been used sparingly.
In 2002 a legal challenge saw home secretaries stripped of their powers and the tariff process handed onto judges.
In 2002 a legal challenge saw home secretaries stripped of their powers and the tariff process handed onto judges.
Many of those who will never be released are notorious. Donald Neilson, also known as the Black Panther, killed at least four people, including the heiress Lesley Whittle. Dennis Nilsen was convicted of six murders and may have carried out as many as nine more.
Many of those who will never be released are notorious. Donald Neilson, also known as the Black Panther, killed at least four people, including the heiress Lesley Whittle. Dennis Nilsen was convicted of six murders and may have carried out as many as nine more.
Bellfield was found guilty of killing two womenSome of those would be considered an extreme risk if they were to be released and some even present a major risk inside. Robert Mawdsley, originally jailed for a single murder, has subsequently killed three fellow prisoners and has spent many years in solitary confinement.
Bellfield was found guilty of killing two womenSome of those would be considered an extreme risk if they were to be released and some even present a major risk inside. Robert Mawdsley, originally jailed for a single murder, has subsequently killed three fellow prisoners and has spent many years in solitary confinement.
According to the prison service they are treated like any other prisoners, despite the fact they will never be released. Although they will never get out and mix with ordinary people, they are still offered the same rehabilitation and education courses as those who will.
According to the prison service they are treated like any other prisoners, despite the fact they will never be released. Although they will never get out and mix with ordinary people, they are still offered the same rehabilitation and education courses as those who will.
And it is not assumed they will necessarily need extra psychological counselling, compared with their fellow inmates. Everyone is assessed as an individual.
And it is not assumed they will necessarily need extra psychological counselling, compared with their fellow inmates. Everyone is assessed as an individual.
But the number of prisoners serving such sentences is so low little academic work has been done on their attitudes to their fate.
But the number of prisoners serving such sentences is so low little academic work has been done on their attitudes to their fate.
Privileges
Privileges
However, in America it is relatively common for prisoners to receive a sentence of life without parole. One in every 11 inmates in the US has been sentenced to life since 2003, says Marc Mauer of the Sentencing Project.
However, in America it is relatively common for prisoners to receive a sentence of life without parole. One in every 11 inmates in the US has been sentenced to life since 2003, says Marc Mauer of the Sentencing Project.
Of those a quarter have no possibility of parole, a total of over 30,000 prisoners. There are 2,200 prisoners who were sentenced to spending the rest of their lives in prison for offences committed while under the age of 18.
Of those a quarter have no possibility of parole, a total of over 30,000 prisoners. There are 2,200 prisoners who were sentenced to spending the rest of their lives in prison for offences committed while under the age of 18.
Prof Robert Johnson, of American University, Washington, and Dr Sandy McGunigall-Smith, of Utah Valley State College, have studied the phenomenon of "whole life" sentences for their upcoming paper "Life Without Parole, America's Other Death Penalty."
Prof Robert Johnson, of American University, Washington, and Dr Sandy McGunigall-Smith, of Utah Valley State College, have studied the phenomenon of "whole life" sentences for their upcoming paper "Life Without Parole, America's Other Death Penalty."
You might expect that prisoners with no prospect of release present a difficult prospect for the authorities, possessing no incentive to obey prison rules or refrain from committing further crimes. But the real truth is surprising.
You might expect that prisoners with no prospect of release present a difficult prospect for the authorities, possessing no incentive to obey prison rules or refrain from committing further crimes. But the truth is surprising.
The sentence grinds on as kind of an empty existence where you spend a lot of time trying to stay in a routine Prof Robert Johnson "They do settle into that life without parole," says Dr McGunigall-Smith. "It does seem that lifers are a more manageable population. They can determine the quality of their life."
The sentence grinds on as kind of an empty existence where you spend a lot of time trying to stay in a routine Prof Robert Johnson "They do settle into that life without parole," says Dr McGunigall-Smith. "It does seem that lifers are a more manageable population. They can determine the quality of their life."
Surveys suggest those serving life imprisonment are better behaved and commit fewer violent offences than their peers on lesser sentences.
Surveys suggest those serving life imprisonment are better behaved and commit fewer violent offences than their peers on lesser sentences.
Many despair at the knowledge they will die without tasting freedom, but also know that only by behaving themselves will they get privileges to help break the monotony. And they have more time to get to grips with prison rules.
Many despair at the knowledge they will die without tasting freedom, but also know that only by behaving themselves will they get privileges to help break the monotony. And they have more time to get to grips with prison rules.
'Monastic existence'
'Monastic existence'
They build routines to help them parcel up time into manageable chunks and vary them slightly to relieve boredom.
They build routines to help them parcel up time into manageable chunks and vary them slightly to relieve boredom.
One prisoner told Dr McGunigall-Smith: "I lead a pointless monastic existence with no end in sight... I live in hell."
One prisoner told Dr McGunigall-Smith: "I lead a pointless monastic existence with no end in sight... I live in hell."
But another revealed a tactic to keep his spirits up, saying: "I tend to pick projects that at least last a year so that I don't have to think of this 'fate worse than death' for at least a whole year."
But another revealed a tactic to keep his spirits up, saying: "I tend to pick projects that at least last a year so that I don't have to think of this 'fate worse than death' for at least a whole year."
"What a lot of them found painful was any disruption," says Dr McGunigall-Smith.
"What a lot of them found painful was any disruption," says Dr McGunigall-Smith.
Wright was found guilty of killing five women"The sentence grinds on as kind of an empty existence where you spend a lot of time trying to stay in a routine," suggests Prof Johnson.
Wright was found guilty of killing five women"The sentence grinds on as kind of an empty existence where you spend a lot of time trying to stay in a routine," suggests Prof Johnson.
Dr McGunigall-Smith's husband Richard Smith was captain, the equivalent of governor, at Utah State Prison and says prisoners serving life without parole soon take a realistic attitude about their situation.
Dr McGunigall-Smith's husband Richard Smith was captain, the equivalent of governor, at Utah State Prison and says prisoners serving life without parole soon take a realistic attitude about their situation.
"If a person has a short sentence he does focus on when he is going to get out, but a person sentenced to life without parole, what they focus on is the day-to-day operation, how they are going to get through their day."
"If a person has a short sentence he does focus on when he is going to get out, but a person sentenced to life without parole, what they focus on is the day-to-day operation, how they are going to get through their day."
Inmates, even those who will never get out, are put through a Management Action Programme to see what they might achieve inside, in terms of work or education or rehabilitation.
Inmates, even those who will never get out, are put through a Management Action Programme to see what they might achieve inside, in terms of work or education or rehabilitation.
Many lifers are happy to engage with work, even working seven days a week, when the alternative is sitting in their cell staring at the wall, says Smith. Anything that can distract them is cherished.
Many lifers are happy to engage with work, even working seven days a week, when the alternative is sitting in their cell staring at the wall, says Smith. Anything that can distract them is cherished.
As one prisoner says: "Sometimes I wake up and start looking around me and then I just lay there with my eyes closed because I just don't want to look at it. I don't want to see the concrete. I don't want to remember that I'm here."
As one prisoner says: "Sometimes I wake up and start looking around me and then I just lay there with my eyes closed because I just don't want to look at it. I don't want to see the concrete. I don't want to remember that I'm here."
Add your comments on this story, using the form below.
Add your comments on this story, using the form below.
Reading this post you cannot help to feel sorry for someone that is trapped in a small cell for the rest of his life. Must be horrendous! However, we should focus on what they did to deserve that. Surely the tortured, killed and caused immense pain to someone else or to many people. Andrea, London
I seem to detect a note of sympathy here for whole life prisoners, and it`s not one that I share. We are talking about the most evil killers in the country, who have repeatedly killed innocent people for their own pleasure and satisfaction, and by doing so have abrogated all their human rights. If this is a genuine piece of academic research, then I applaud it, provided that the findings are used to make the lives of these prisoners as miserable as is humanly possible. Alan Twigg, Manchester, England
Um, am I the only person to read this and think: "Then you shouldn't have behaved in such a way that you're in for life." Nowhere is there any remorse expressed. Sorry, but there's a reason you're in this "predicament". And self-pity never does it for me.WarriorPrincess, London
Let them earn their keep. Even if these prisoners are going to be locked up for life, it would be helpful if they had projects to do that would benefit the public. Such as raising shelter animals to aide the disabled. It would behoove society to at least try to produce some good out of an awful situation. Keeping prisoners occupied with useful, positive activities benefits us ALL. Maggie, New York, US
A life in prison where you are fed, watered and educated is a small price to pay in comparsion to the life sentence inflicted on the familes who have lost loved ones in the most appauling and horrific circumstances. There should be only one sentence for those convicted of murder and its not life in prison.M, London
I hope we are not going to feel sorry for lifers. They chose their life, what about the victims they didn't. More murderers should be in prison until they die.Yvonne, Preston, England
I would think that in cases like this the death penalty would be more relevent than spending the rest of your life looking at the same four walls, while your health mental and physical would go down the tubes rapidly. It could be more humane. Irrespective of their crimes, they are still classed as human beings and should be treated as such. What also should be taken into consideration is cost. I am not sadistic just practical.Maximus, Boxgrove UK
Who cares? Oops, I do. They cost me and the other members of the tax paying community a lot of money.Laura, Harlow
Life imprisonment is what they should get, having done such horrendous crimes. There life imprisonment should be solitary when they are not doing work and when they are it should be the most meaningless mundane manual labour jobs. James, UK
