The New York Times has been publishing a series of articles about prison in America this week. The first link I have posted is about teenagers who are serving life sentences. The second is about the increasing number of prisoners dying behind bars, because a life sentence is beginning to mean just that: the rest of your life.

Interesting reading for anyone interested in prison culture.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/03/national/03lifers.html?hp&ex=1128398400&en=af2b3907 1fbfc5ae&ei=5094&partner=homepage

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/02/national/02life.web.html?fta=y

Even tho Im from aust I read these articles and it is very interesting. Here in Victoria, australia we also have LWOP for exceptional circumstances eg killing a cop. But it isnt mandatory for muder a person may get a certain amount of years eg 21 with parole after 15 or a life sentence with parole or LWOP. Currently there are 8 people serving LWOP. Also in some australian states eg South Australia there os no LWOP only life with parole.

here is the next article in the series, about the difficulty life prisoners have in finding an attorney. It seems most lawyers are more interested in helping death row inmates, at the expense of those sentenced to life.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/05/national/05lifer.html?ei=5094&en=9cba5c35fc674125&h p=&ex=1128571200&adxnnl=1&partner=home page&adxnnlx=1128503163-XvB7+b58KsVRHJqCONrwiw