three strikes law

This writing assignment contains the following information based on the criminal justice system. This assignment will focus on The Three strikes law and the impact on the California law enforcement; Second, the prison crowding and Cost implications; Third, the effect on crime and the impact on Public Safety. Three strikes law is the conviction for a felony resulting in a mandatory and lengthy prison term.(7) Beginning in 1993, twenty three states and the federal government adopted the three strikes law which, intended to target repeated violent offenders. The requirements for sentencing a defendant as a third strike offender were changed to twenty-five years to life by requiring the new felony to be a serious or violent crime. Three strikes laws have been the reason of extensive debate over whether they are effective.

As stated by the Legislative Analyst’s Office the major changes are as follows:

Second Strike Offense. If a person has one previous serious or violent felony conviction, is twice the term otherwise required under law for the new conviction.

Third Strike Offense. If the person has two or more pervious serious or violent felony convictions, the sentence for any new felony conviction is life imprisonment with the minimum term of 25 years.

Consecutive Sentencing. The statute requires consecutive, rather than concurrent, sentencing for multiple offenses committed by strikers.

As a result, the three strikes law increased the length of time some repeated offenders spent in state prison. For this reason, defendants who have been sentenced to long in prison under these laws have challenged these laws as unconstitutional. For example, one defendant was guilty of stealing video tapes from two department stores. The defend...

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... A third reason, is the cost of imprisoning three strikes for life will be high. On the article California’s Continuing Prison Crisis, states that the estimated cost of maintaining an older prisoner is three times that required for a younger prisoner-about 60,000 per year. Most crimes are committed by men between the ages of 15 and 24. Only one percent of all serious crimes are committed by people over age 60.

Supporters justification of the three strikes law was that it will safe California over 100 million every year, money that can be use to fund schools, fight crime and reduce the state’s deficit. A second reason is the support from law enforcement. Prop 36 helps ensure that prisons can keep dangerous criminals behind bars for life. Lastly, it will make room in prison for dangerous felons, it will help stop overcrowded prisons with non-violent offenders.