# The Rationale of crazy-long jail sentences

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rationale-of-crazy-long-jail-sentences/665161>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 2, 2013, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rationale-of-crazy-long-jail-sentences/665161 "2013-08-02T15:51:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rationale-of-crazy-long-jail-sentences/665161/1 "2013-08-02T15:51:36Z")

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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?

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**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rationale-of-crazy-long-jail-sentences/665161/2 "2013-08-02T16:00:58Z")

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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.

> **[Life Without Parole Plus 1,000 Years](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=697686)**
>
> Ariel Castro, the man from Cleveland who kidnapped three girls and held them captive in his home has agreed to plead guilty. His sentence: I’m a little confused here. Why the need for both parts of the sentence? I can see life without parole. I...

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**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rationale-of-crazy-long-jail-sentences/665161/3 "2013-08-02T16:10:26Z")

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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.”

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**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rationale-of-crazy-long-jail-sentences/665161/4 "2013-08-02T16:20:50Z")

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> [@PastTense](#):
>
> 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.  
> [Life Without Parole Plus 1,000 Years - Factual Questions - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=697686)

Oh wow I did not see that.

Thanks!