Indeterminate prison sentences

[emmie]

why can't the law, courts determine the actual sentence, instead of
giving an indeterminate one. A man has just been found guilty of having over 300,000 thousand images of children on his computers, and elsewhere presumably, but his sentence is indeterminate, and the reporter added it means he must serve at least three years, i don't really understand this at all.

[emmie]

still not sure understand this, even after listening to the news.

[ABerrant]

This is a means by which a sentence may be longer than that usually handed down.

Under an indeterminate prison sentence, a minimum tariff for incarceration is handed down but the defendant must satisfy the authorities he or she is fit for release and does not pose any threat to the community.

Once behind bars, and having served their minimum tariff, the offender must prove through special classes and other intensive supervision, that they pose less of a risk than when they entered jail. A reformed prisoner will be out when they have shown they have reformed - and those who have not addressed their offending will stay locked away.

[emmie]

Ok, but not sure why the courts, law, can't say 10 years and be done with it.
In this persons case, i wouldn't let him out, but that's perhaps a different story.

[ABerrant]

A determinate sentence of 10 years means the prisoner is automatically paroled after 5 and remains on licence (i.e can be recalled to prison) for 5 years.

An indeterminate sentence of 3 years means he may never come out, or could be paroled after 3 years, 5 years, 10 years, 20 years (depending on his behaviour inside), and could remain on licence for the rest of his life.

[emmie]

i sort of understand but when i hear this on the news or read it in the paper im not sure what its about, thanks for explanation.