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<p>Sentencing is entirely a matter for our independent judiciary. Release from mandatory
life sentences is determined by the Parole Board, when the Board is satisfied that
detaining the offender is no longer necessary for the protection of the public.</p><p>
</p><p>While we do not have an estimate of the average time those <em>currently </em>in
prison on mandatory life sentences will serve, we do publish average time served,
based on release data, on an annual basis. Table below.</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Mandatory
life</p></td><td><p>Mean time served (years)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2002</p></td><td><p>14</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2003</p></td><td><p>15</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2004</p></td><td><p>14</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2005</p></td><td><p>14</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2006</p></td><td><p>14</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2007</p></td><td><p>16</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2008</p></td><td><p>16</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009</p></td><td><p>17</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010</p></td><td><p>16</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011</p></td><td><p>16</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>16</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>17</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014</p></td><td><p>17</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015<sup>(1)</sup></p></td><td><p>17</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016</p></td><td><p>16</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017</p></td><td><p>17</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018</p></td><td><p>17</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2019</p></td><td><p>18</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2020</p></td><td><p>17</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2021</p></td><td><p>17</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2022</p></td><td><p>18</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>
</p><p>(1) Due to improvements in IT systems, the 2015 prison admissions data is now
taken from a different source and, for statistical reporting purposes only, are produced
using a different method. The 2015 figures from both the old and new systems have
been presented to aid comparison.</p>
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