
Death by Incarceration
Is Torture
On September 15, 2022, dozens of organizations across the United States submitted a complaint to United Nations independent experts challenging the United States' policy and practice of condemning people to death by incarceration (DBI), also known as life sentences. Over 40 people currently serving DBI submitted letters in support of the complaint.
In 2020, 15% of the total prison population, or 203,865 people, were serving life or virtual life sentences
The United States’ extreme prison sentencing policies and practices, including life without parole, life with parole, “virtual life,” and other sentences that exceed life expectancy and thus effectively condemn individuals to death by incarceration, violate the prohibition against torture, violate the prohibition against racial discrimination, violate individuals’ right to life, and are cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment and an arbitrary deprivation of liberty.