THREE STRIKES LAW

Three Strikes Law



Three Strikes Law

Introduction

As a consequence of the increasing number of violent crimes in the United States, the state government passed a new law named The Three Strikes Law and You are Out. It is a criminal sentencing law which, after its announcement received a high level of support from voter. This law marked a significant change in the history of criminal justice system. Chapter 12 and Proposition 184 are the most significant provisions of prison sentencing; however, amendments can be made in this Legislature subject to the availability of two-third vote.

As a result, of passing this law, the prison sentences increased to a significant level, for those people committing serious or violent crime for the third consecutive time; this law also restricted the limit of such offenders for receiving a punishment of prison. The serious and violent criminal offenses are already described in state law. Violent felonies include house robbery using a deadly weapon, murder, sexual assaults including rape. On the other hand, serious crimes are the same as violent offenses; however, these may include house burglary and assaults with the intention of rape or robbery.

Discussion

Impact of Three Strikes Law

There is a whole range of positive effects of this implementing this law. As described in the words of Legislative Analyst's Office; “Although the measure has been in effect for less than one year, it is already having significant impacts on the local and state criminal justice systems” (Legislative Analyst's Office, 1999). If facts are to be considered in measuring the effectiveness of implementing this law, a few in the initial months after this law, identifies the complexities faced in implementing it; however, the post implementation effects are evidence of its success. A few of them are as follows:

Based on the provisions of the Three Strikes Law, thousands of cases proceeded and offenders sentenced to punishment with respective to the crime they committed. According to the statistics of August 1994, which was only six months after the implementation of this law, the number of second and third strike filed cases reached above 7,400.

After the implementation of this law, the disposing of criminal cases because of plea from defendants reduced to 14 percent in second strike cases and only 6 percent in the cases of third strike.

Jury trials increased to a significant level.

Only in California, violent crimes especially the offenses of homicide in Los Angeles dropped. The count ...