questions:
does anyone know in california, if someone is sentanced to 25 to life, how long must they serve before eligiable for parole??? is 25 to life, the same as life??
when did the three strike law become in effect?? if someone was sentanced before this law, & was convicted with 4 felonies, how does this effect their time???

I believe you have to serve 25 yrs before you can come up for parole. I may be wrong. Hopefully someone will be along shortley to help you.

You are right, kreepsgirl.

25 years and he will be eligible for parole, but remember very few get parole the first time up. That may change in the future though... So he could end up doing anywhere from 25 years to life, only time will tell. My guy got 25 to life plus 4 years for a drug charge.

Also, the time he did in county should count toward time served, that helps a little.

3 strikes shouldn't really effect him either way --if he got 25 to life, that's what he'll do.

I read on the California website that people with life sentemces with the possibility for parole are eligiable to go up in front of the Board of Prison Terms one year prior to their minimum release date. So if you got 25 to life...you can go in front of the board after 24 years. Doesn't mean they will let you out before 25 years. Almost always the board denies the parole the first time. If your sentence was for murder, they can deny you the chance to go back in front of the board for up to 5 years at a time. Other crimes the maximum is 2 years. But the board can deny you many, many times...for the rest of your natural life. That's where the word life comes into play with a sentence like 25 to life. My baby has a 15 to life sentence...:cry: and it sucks! :argh: I hope this helps...Diane...:cool: