The Rationale of crazy-long jail sentences

Factual Questions
1

I read on the news last night that Ariel Castro is getting something like 1,000 years in jail, plus no parole.

In this same vein I know of criminals who will get 2 or 3 “consecutive” life sentences for their crimes. Why do they do this? Couldn’t they just succumb all of these sentences into “life without perole?”

Obviously there is a process/reason for all of this, I just don’t know what it is…can someone explain it for me?

2

Part of it is simply PR–to prove the prosecuting attorney and judge are tough on crime.

But we just had a long thread on Ariel Castro’s sentence.

3

I’ve got to admit, I get a kick out of the thought of future archeologists excavating the site of a prison in Ohio, and finding a crypt with the inscription “Ariel Castro. Do not open before the year 3145.”

4

Oh wow I did not see that.

Thanks!