Jackson's doctor likely to serve two years in jail

Dr. Conrad Murray reacts after the jury returns with a guilty verdict in his involuntary manslaughter trial Monday, Nov. 7, 2011 in a Los Angeles courtroom. Photo / AP

Michael Jackson's former doctor Conrad Murray will likely be released in two years due to a new law.

Murray, convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Jackson, will likely serve only half of his four-year jail sentence due to a recent change in California law that allows non-violent felony offenders to serve their time in county jail instead of state prison, reported ABC News.

The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department said the cardiologist would more than likely be released in two years due to factors such as jail overcrowding.

District Attorney Steve Cooley said he was considering asking Judge Michael Pastor to modify the sentence so Murray's crime could be reclassified as a serious felony.

This would send Murray into the state prison system, where he would serve the entire four years of his sentence.

"This is going to be a real test of our criminal justice system to see if it's meaningful at all," said Cooley.

Judge Pastor acknowledged he had no control of how much of the four year sentence he imposed the doctor would actually serve, saying it was out of his hands due to California law.