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Comment by ceejayoz | Hacker News Reader

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ceejayoz

Life in prison is just a delayed death sentence.

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A "delayed death sentence" is awful if you if you have chronic pain and are seeking suicide by revolution.

I dont think the two are equivalent

Death by suicide is entirely attainable in prison, if desired.

so what? that still doesn't mean that life in prison is the same as suicide.

Correct. I'm asserting life in prison and a death sentence are functionally identical. (In the US.)

Both can be ended via suicide, if the inmate so chooses.

Death sentence is often seen as better because you might get an individual cell, and copious pro bono appeals for your case.

He won’t get a death sentence for the charges which have been announced so far. Those which are severe enough to carry a death sentence in many US jurisdictions (like murder) are New York state charges, and NY law hasn’t had a death penalty for two decades now or an execution in roughly 8 decades.

If there somehow end up being Pennsylvania or federal charges against him in connection with the murder, those criminal law systems still have the death penalty.

He does currently face some Pennsylvania charges as well, such as firearms charges in connection with the encounter where he was arrested, but none of those are severe enough to warrant a death sentence.

Life outside prison is also a delayed death sentence.

The difference between life-in-prison and a death sentence is pretty minimal, given the length of time it takes in the US to get through the death row process. Decades, typically. Many are never actually executed. In either case, you are expected to die in a jail cell after many, many years of incarceration.

The difference between those two and a non-imprisoned life is... significant.

But not as bad of a sentence, since you're not in prison.

In prison the state pays for his health care.

life anywhere is just a delayed death sentence...

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