THREE STRIKES LAW

This Is the World We Live In

This Is the World We Live In

Introduction

The three strikes law in a law by the government of the United States that hands over a person an extended and a mandatory period of imprisonment if a person is caught of a serious crime offense at three different occasions. This law became very popular in the 1990s, and twenty-four states have some similar forms of laws. This law significantly increases the imprisonment period of a criminal. Furthermore, this law limits the ability of the criminals to receive any other sort of punishment than a prison sentence. The violent actions on which three strikes law is applicable are robbery of a house with a deadly weapon, sex offences such as rape, murder etc.

Key Features of the Three Strikes Law

The three strikes law is an increased imprisonment for criminals who have committed crime for more than three times. Three strikes law is a law that increases the imprisonment period. Some people argue that three strikes law is an old law with a new name. To avoid this controversy, the following main features of the law are discussed:

1. Second Strike Offense

If a criminal has committed the same crime for the second time, the punishment will be twice as hard as the first one, unlike the old laws where the punishment is the same as the first one. people who are punished under this law are known as second strikers.

2. Third Strike Offense

If a criminal has two or more than two criminal offenses, he will be sentenced to imprisonment for a minimum of 25 years. Criminals who are sentenced to imprisonment under this law are known as third strike offenders.

3. Consecutive Sentencing

This law requires people to be sentenced for imprisonment as second strikers prior to they are sentenced as third strikers. If a person is punished as a two and a third striker, he will receive a maximum of fifty years imprisonment sentence (25 years for each strike).

4. Prior Conviction Time not considered

The time between the past and the new crime will not affect the sentencing of the new punishment. There are many serious crimes that can be counted as the first strike and if the same crime is committed the second and third time, the third strike law will be applicable.

5. Prohibitions

Suspensions, prohibitions and/or diversions are prohibited in the third strike law. The criminal should be given punishment for whatever crime he has committed and cannot do away with it.

6. Prosecutorial Discretion

Prosecutors can dismiss the prior crimes that the person has committed. Such cases are exceptions and are to the discretion of the prosecution.

7. Good Time Credits

Strikers cannot reduce the time that they have to serve in the jail by more than one-fifth of the total time. The only way of doing this is by doing education or work activities.

Cause of Third Strike Law

The third strike law was implemented with no exceptions in 1993 in Washington. The initial three strikes law meant that the person who has ...