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Produced by the Sentencing Academy

Sentencing for Murder & Life Sentences

Key Facts and Statistics

by Annalena Wolcke

Last updated: Aug 2026

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Fact 1

All adults convicted of murder receive a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment.

A small number of persons convicted of murder will receive a Whole Life Order. This means they will never be released from prison. All other people serving life for murder will serve a minimum number of years in prison before becoming eligible to apply for release on licence. This is known as the ‘Minimum Term’.1

The normal starting point for sentencing is a minimum term of 15 years. Where one or more aggravating factors are present, the starting point can be raised to 25 years, 30 years, or life.

There are many aggravating factors that can increase the minimum term, including factors such as a murder done for the purpose of advancing a political, religious, racial or ideological cause, the murder of a police officer or prison officer in the course of their duty, or a murder involving the use of a firearm or explosive.

Minimum terms in murder cases differ from determinate prison sentences in two respects: firstly, they must be served in full.

Secondly, release from prison at the end of the minimum term is not automatic. At the end of the term, the person can apply to the Parole Board for release on licence but will be released only if they are no longer considered to be a risk to the public. If released, the person will be subject to certain conditions and, if the conditions are broken or the person is considered to be a risk to the public, they will be sent back to prison.

Fact 2

COURTS IMPOSED

232

LIFE SENTENCES IN 2025.

OF THESE,

83%

WERE IMPOSED FOR MURDER.2

Fact 3

The number of convictions for murder has fluctuated over the last 20 years.3

Fact 4

Of the 226 people sentenced for murder in 2025,

9% were women

91% were men

4

Fact 5

The majority of people sentenced for murder are between 25 and 49 years old.5

Fact 6

Between 2000 and 2015, the average (mean) minimum term imposed for murder increased by around 50%, but has since remained stable.6

Fact 7

In 2026, 7,361 people were serving a life sentence.7

The majority were serving sentences with a minimum term of between 10 and 20 years.

Minimum TermNumber of people serving a life sentence on March 31, 2026Proportion (%)
Less than or equal to 10 years92713%
More than 10 years to 20 years3,39846%
More than 20 years2,96140%
Whole life sentences751%

Fact 8

The number of people serving Whole Life Orders in prison has increased by over 80%, from 41 people in 2012 to 75 in 2026.8

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This infographic is one of a series on sentencing trends in England & Wales. Others can be found here. For further information, contact Annalena Wolcke at [email protected]

  1. Sentencing Academy (2025). Sentencing for Murder – Sentencing Explained. Sentencing Hub. https://www.sentencingacademy.org.uk/sentencinghub/sentences-explained/sentencing-for-murder/. ↩︎
  2. Data calculated from Ministry of Justice (2026), Criminal Justice Statistics Quarterly: December 2025, published 30th of April. Outcomes by offence data tool, Table 2. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-statistics-quarterly-december-2025. ↩︎
  3. Data calculated from Ministry of Justice (2014; 2016; 2026), Criminal Justice Statistics Quarterly: December; 2004-2014, 2010-2016, 2017-2025. Outcomes by offence data tool, Table 2.
    https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/criminal-justice-statistics-quarterly. ↩︎
  4. Data calculated from Ministry of Justice (2026), Criminal Justice Statistics Quarterly: December 2025, published 30th of April. Outcomes by offence data tool, Table 2. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-statistics-quarterly-december-2025. ↩︎
  5. Data calculated from Ministry of Justice (2026), Criminal Justice Statistics Quarterly: December 2025, published 30th of April. Outcomes by offence data tool, Table 2. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-statistics-quarterly-december-2025. ↩︎
  6. Data sources:

    Lord Bradley (2022). Homicide: Sentencing. House of Lords written question HL7261, 23 March. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2022-03-23/hl7261;

    Lord Garnier (2025). Homicide: Sentencing. House of Lords written question HL3987, 13 January. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-01-13/hl3987. ↩︎
  7. Data calculated from Ministry of Justice (2026). Offender management statistics quarterly: October to December 2025. Prison Population: 31 March 2026. Table 1_Q_16. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69f0c7400bb62e692c5d6dae/prison-population-31-Mar-2026.ods. ↩︎
  8. Data sources:

    Ministry of Justice, (2024; 2026), Offender management statistics quarterly: October to December 2023; 2025. Prison Population: 31 March 2023; 2025. Table 1.Q.16. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/offender-management-statistics-quarterly.

    Ministry of Justice (2022), Offender management statistics quarterly: January to March 2022. Annual Prison Population: 2022. Table A1_14. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/62e14f25e90e0766ac1dabfc/Population_30June2022_Annual.ods. ↩︎