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California
California’s Three Strike Law
Elsie Carrasquillo
Crime and Society
Instructor Scott Axton
2 May 2013

ABSTRACT Some states have yet to join those states that have put in effect the Three Strike Law. Even though many states have implemented the Three Strike Law it still has many setbacks. California has the strictest laws on the Three Strike Law. While experts thought this would be a good idea it causes issues like overcrowding in prisons and a much bigger budget plan. Proposition 36 was voted to reform the Three Strike Law to reduce sentences to those who have been convicted or misdemeanors instead of felonies.

The Three Strike Law was first introduced in 1974, in the state of Texas. The state of Texas Three Strike Law, mandated for a criminal to automatically have to serve life in prison. Since then, there have been about 27 other states who have adopted the Three Strike Law. California was the third state to start implicating the law in 1994. Out of all the states who have adopted the law, California is the strictest state. California’s Three Strike Law has been around for about 19 years now. The main goal of this law was to reduce crime and deter offenders from repeating or committing more crime. The Three Strike Law in California was recently voted on Proposition 36, which reforms the Three Strike Law in the election of November 2012. The reason why the Three Strike Law was to be voted on was because, regardless of the crimes committed, whether serious or petty crimes, as long as it was there third strike. The offenders are facing life in prison whether their crimes were within a year of each other or within their lifetime. California’s voters had to decide whether to pass Proposion 36, which modifies the Three Strike Law. The Three Strike Law was first introduced in California, after a 12 year old girl named, Polly Klaas, was kidnap and murder by Richard Allen Davis. Richard Allen Davis had a criminal background that started as early=y as



References: Collica, K., & Furst, G. (2012). Crime & Society. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education Inc. Jafee, I. (2013, April 10). A Mother 's Fight Against 3 Strikes Law 'A Way of Life ' : NPR. Retrieved April 28, 2013, from http://www.npr.org/2013/04/10/176801984/a-mothers-fight-against-3-strikes-law-a-way-of-life Narrow Supreme Court Decision Upholds "Three Strike" Law. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2013, from http://www.civilrights.org/criminal-justice/sentencing/three-strikes-law.html Proposition 36 | Official Voter Information Guide | California Secretary of State. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2013, from http://voterguide.sos.ca.gov/propositions/36/

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