It really isn't as simple as the popular motto's "life should mean ife" etc.
Part of the reason the "life should mean life" motto came about was because of confusion over the difference between a "life sentence" and a "life tariff" in the UK.
In the UK a "life sentence" refers to any single sentence over 15 years. If all "life sentences" lasted until death than people who only received medium length sentences would stay in for far too long.
A life tariff, on the other hand, means life.
Perhaps the best solution would be to rename the sentences in the UK to avoid confusion.
The second problem with long sentences is that recherche suggests that sentences over 30 years have almost as much effect deterrent effect as those over 30 years. In the UK sentences are imposed to A) keep the public safe and B) act as a deterrent. i.e they are never used for revenge. As a result it is normally the case that convicts that are considered safe will be released before they die after they have served an appropriate deterrent sentence.
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