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Mexico upholds lifetime prison terms, September 7, 2005

Mexico’s Supreme Court upheld a law in the Mexican state of Chihuahua which allows consecutive, multiple prison terms for the murder of women, children and kidnap victims, even if the total time exceeds 100 years, which most Mexican states limit to 40 or 50 years. Mexico has previously denied extradition for any criminal that can face life sentences elsewhere, including the United States, ruling such punishments cruel and unusual and prohibited by the Mexican constitution. The Mexican prohibition on extradition for life sentences has upset U.S. lawmen as a result of the fact that it blocked extradition of suspects that flee to Mexico who are wanted for particularly brutal murders.


News Stories:

"Revira la SCJN sobre la cadena perpetua "
La Jornada (Mexico) September 7, 2005
"Mexico High Court Allows Drug Extradition to U.S., Reforma Says "
Bloomberg September 7, 2005
"Mexico Supreme Court approves virtual lifetime sentences, could affect extraditions "
San Diego Union Tribune September 7, 2005

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September 7, 2005