three-strikes laws
Mandatory life sentences
Three-strikes laws are criminal sentencing statutes that impose mandatory lengthy or life sentences on offenders convicted of a third serious felony.
The baseball metaphor suggests a final chance: after two prior convictions, a third "strike" triggers severe punishment regardless of the crime's severity.
These laws emerged in the 1990s amid concerns about repeat violent offenders: He got twenty-five to life under California's three-strikes law.
- California lawLegal rules of California
- feloniesSerious punishable offenses
- recidivismHabitual return to crime
- punishmentPenalty for an offense
- sentencingImposing legal punishment
you're out · mandatory minimums · repeat offenders · career criminal · legislation · incarceration · justice · penalty · statute · conviction · correctional facilities · public safety · criminal record · warehousing · life imprisonment · life without parole · crimes · repeat
three-strikes lawsjudicial discretion
Judge's decision-making freedom
parole eligibility · clemency · sentence reduction · sentencing guidelines · mitigating circumstances
three-strikes lawsrestorative justice
Conflict resolution through mutual healing
rehabilitation programs · decarceration · alternative sentencing · decriminalization · drug courts
three-strikes lawsdecarceration
Reducing imprisonment rates
sentence reduction · clemency · amnesty · community service · suspended sentences
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