Three Strikes Law

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Three-Strikes Law Three-Strikes Law In 1994, a very controversial, “Three Strikes” law was first passed in the state of California. The law forces state courts to impose of life sentence upon anyone who has been convict3d of two or more criminal offenses. This law is immoral, unjust, faulty, and should not be allowed anywhere in the United States of America. The law is immoral because it is putting people who have committed small crimes in prision for double life sentences when the situation could be easily resolved with community service or even a few life years in jail. For example, there was a “man [who was] sentenced to prison for 25 years to life under the law for stealing a bottle of vitamins” (Murphy). In March 1999, when the Three Strikes law was challenged by this case, the Supreme Court “refused to hear” (Murphy) a word that was said by the people. By putting them in prison for an excessive amount of years, housing for serious offenders is being made unavailable which will lead to an increase “to an already overcrowded and expensive prison system” (Messerli). Some of the people may have committed the innocuous crime to help their spouse and children. When used, the Three Strikes law treats all crimes the exact same way, which makes the law unjust. For example, someone who raped and murdered a twelve year old girl would receive the same exact punishment as someone who was caught with marijuana. Many people want to put a stop to situations like this, but every day these trials are taking places. The media then tries to persuade the citizens into believing the law is effective by broadcasting different trials that put the person in prison. But, they do not tell the public that they are being put in prison for stealing “videos or pizza” (Messerli). In 1995, there were 4,161 criminals convicted in the state court system in
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