Ways of the Wizarding World - are all sentences Life Sentences?

[Cyril A Fernandes]

No: HPFGUIDX 159551

Hi,

I was doing some re-reading of the series, and a thought struck me 
about the sentences that people get to Azkaban.

In all cases, it seems that when someone is sentenced to Azkaban - 
it is a life sentence. There does not seem to be an option such as - 
Sentenced to Azkaban for the next 5 years.

IIRC - only three people ever got out of Azkaban legally (and there 
maybe more that do not come to mind)

a) Hagrid in CoS - when it was proved that he was not responsible 
for opening by Chamber
b) Reference to Karkaroff in the Pensieve memory - got out by giving 
away names of DE's - which was in essence a pardon or reduction of a 
sentence for information.
c) Uncle Morphin - when DD was able to show that he probably did not 
commit the crimes that he was charged with in the Pensieve memory in 
HBP

So, it seems only that people get out of Azkaban legally if they 
sell info or if it can be shown that they are not guilty (not to 
mention the ones that slip through the bars or mass breakouts, that 
would be classified as illegal)

However, when they are initially being jailed there - apparently it 
is with intent for life.

Cyril - wondering why the WW does not have the opportunity for 
witches and wizards from returning after paying their debt to 
sociery...