Death by Incarceration
Is Torture
On September 15, 2022, a coalition of organizations from across the United States submitted a complaint to United Nations independent experts challenging the United States' policy and practice of condemning people to death by incarceration (DBI), also known as life sentences. Over 40 people currently serving DBI submitted letters in support of the complaint.
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Since then, the coalition has engaged in other advocacy with the United Nations – including additional complaints, as well as a trip to Geneva in which a delegation of people formerly sentenced to DBI, loved ones of those currently sentenced to DBI, and other advocates traveled to the United Nations Human Rights Committee during its review of the United States and called on the United Nations to urge the United States to end its cruel and racially discriminatory practice of DBI.
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As a result of this advocacy, the United Nations has: condemned DBI, advised the United States to ensure that all sentences include parole eligibility, and it has called for a moratorium on LWOP sentences.
In 2020, 15% of the total prison population, or 203,865 people, were serving life or virtual life sentences
The United States’ extreme prison sentencing policies and practices, including life without parole, life with parole, “virtual life,” and other sentences that exceed life expectancy and thus effectively condemn individuals to death by incarceration, violate the prohibition against torture, violate the prohibition against racial discrimination, violate individuals’ right to life, and are cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment and an arbitrary deprivation of liberty.
