NC to release 20 inmates after courts agree that decades-old law set ‘life’ at 80 years

NC to release 20 inmates serving ‘life’ sentences

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina officials are scheduled to release 20 inmates who were sentenced under an old law that defines life sentences as 80 years.

The state’s appeals court and Supreme Court agreed with one convicted murderer who argued his life sentence was complete, with credit for good behavior.

The law was passed in 1974 and applies to inmates sentenced under it but is no longer in effect.

Gov. Beverely Perdue opposes releasing the violent offenders early and says she is talking with attorneys to see if there’s a way to prevent them from going free.

State officials say the 20 inmates have been denied parole multiple times and seven of them were initially sentenced to death.