[ifelsethenyeah]

Listen and watch works by Chris Hedges. He teaches in prisons and notices many aging, nearly cripple African-American men in for life for petty crimes.

In the rest of the world, actual life sentences are unheard of short of terrorism and mass murder. 21 years IIRC is the standard maximum for many European countries (i.e., Norway) for most serious violent crimes. The person will likely have changed being 35-40+ years of age. If not rehabilitated (which the US doesn't care about), Norway can extend sentences in 5 year increments like a parole board.