sentence of twenty five years to life(It's a shortened version of "a
life sentence with the possibility of parole beginning after twenty five
years have been served." It means that the first twenty five years are
compulsory, but you may be retained in prison after that until you
convince a parole board that you are sufficiently rehabilitated to pose
no danger to the community. Parole is never guaranteed, and so you may
indeed remain in prison for life. You will in any case serve a minimum
of twenty-five years. Dominator_Salvator)
