Life imprisonment or life incarceration is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime, often for most or even all of the criminal's remaining life, but in fact for a period which varies between jurisdictions: many countries have a maximum possible period of time a prisoner may be incarcerated, or require the possibility of parole after a set amount of time. Examples of crimes which can result in life imprisonment include murder and rape and drug trafficking under the American Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), especially if the person in question has committed these acts multiple times. In almost all jurisdictions without capital punishment, life imprisonment (especially without the possibility of parole) constitutes the most severe form of criminal punishment. Only a small number of jurisdictions have abolished both.
Children under 18
Like other areas of criminal law, sentences handed to minors may differ from those given to legal adults. A few countries worldwide allow for minors to be given lifetime sentences that have no provision for eventual release. (Although South Africa does allow life imprisonment for children below 18 years of age, it is with the possibility of release. In terms of parole laws, a person sentenced to life will be eligible for parole after serving 25 years.) Of these, only the United States actually have minors serving such sentences, according to an updated 2008 joint study by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. As of May 2008, Human Rights Watch has calculated that there are 2,484 youth offenders serving life without parole in the United States.
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