Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

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Key definition

Mandatory life sentence definition

What does Mandatory life sentence mean? In practice, a mandatory life sentence means that on conviction for murder the court must impose life imprisonment and has no discretion to choose another type of sentence. This rule is set by statute across England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland. Adults convicted of murder receive life imprisonment. For offenders under 18, each jurisdiction provides an equivalent indeterminate detention regime: detention at His Majesty’s pleasure (England and Wales), detention without limit of time (Scotland), a “pleasure” detention regime (Northern Ireland), and detention under the Children Act 2001 (Ireland). The court sets a minimum term (tariff or, in Scotland, the...

Mandatory Life Sentencing in England and Wales under the Sentencing Act 2020: Schedule 21 Tariffs, Whole Life Orders, Minimum Terms and Review

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Practice notes

A court is required to hand down a Life sentence to any offender aged 21 or above who is found guilty of Murder, excluding related crimes such as attempted murder or Conspiracy to murder. This obligation arises because, in such cases, the penalty is fixed by law. The same principle equally applies to any other offence for which the sentence fixed by law is life imprisonment. If the offender was over 18 when the offence occurred but under 21 at the date of conviction, the corresponding sentence is custody for life in lieu of a life sentence. Where a defendant is convicted of murder having been under 18 at the time of the offence, the proper sentence is detention at His Majesty's pleasure.

Fixing the tariff for mandatory life sentences

When imposing a life sentence, the court must make a whole life order or otherwise set a minimum term that must be served in custody before the Parole Board can then consider release...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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