What is the “Three Strikes” law?

The “Three Strikes” law in California is a law that states that if someone is convicted of a serious felony – such as murder, rape, robbery, or certain gun crimes – and then convicted of another serious felony after that, they will be given a mandatory prison sentence of 25 years to life. The “Three Strikes” law applies to felonies committed after 1994 and is designed to prevent repeat offenders from continuing to commit serious crimes in California. The “Three Strikes” law applies to both felony convictions and arrests. If someone is arrested for a serious felony and then later arrested for a second serious felony at a different time, the first arrest counts as one of the “strikes” for the Three Strikes law. In addition, if a person is convicted of two serious felonies, there does not have to be a conviction for a third felony for the Three Strikes law to apply. The “Three Strikes” law operates on a system of accumulating “strikes” and can have serious consequences. Being convicted of a third felony may lead to a mandatory prison sentence and serve as an example of the severity of California’s stance on violent crime. The “Three Strikes” law is an important part of the state’s Violent Crimes Law and has been effective in decreasing the number of repeat offenders.

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What is the “Three Strikes” law?

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