World Prisons

Reform / Reports

The Sentencing Project · United States · 2022

Nothing But Time: Elderly Americans Serving Life Without Parole

Verified 21 May 2026 · Data dated 21 May 2026
Fresh · 8d ago

Documents the explosion of US life-without-parole (LWOP) sentences since the 1980s. More than 56,000 people are serving LWOP, with the elderly and infirm population growing rapidly while posing minimal public safety risk. Argues that 'compassionate release' and parole-eligibility reforms could safely return thousands.

Topics

sentencingdecarcerationelderly in prison