Life Sentences

I was floored when reading that the average life sentence is only 17 years.

Does this include the "Life sentence without the possibility of parole" and multiple life sentences.

 

Well, possibly it means that your life expectancy in prison while serving a life sentence is only 17 years?

A person receiving a "life sentence" can serve as little as 15 years in some states. "Life Sentence Without Parole"? I guess the person could be pardoned or his sentence commuted (reduced to a lesser amount of time or for "time served").

 

I don't think the data included deaths or expected deaths in prison, but could stand corrected.

 

I read once that in NYS, you would have to kill on average 3 and1/2 people before you got life.