What is the Three Strikes Law in State of California?
According to the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution, there shall be no cruel and unusual punishments inflicted upon the citizens of the United States. However, in the state of California, the legislators and electors tend to ignore that vital check imposed on the governmental power. As a result, they instituted a law commonly referred to as the three strikes law. Under this traditional law, convictions for minor offenses can lead to excessive and disproportionate sentences. In simple words, the more convictions you have, the harsher the punishment will be.
According to the “three strikes” law, a conviction for a felony or violent crime can lead to a ‘strike’ on a citizen’s criminal record. With every strike, the consequences of each sentence for a defendant increase in a significant manner. Suppose you have one felony conviction on your criminal record; that would be considered your first strike, and your sentence would be according to that. Now, if you get convicted of another felony, your sentence according to the new conviction could be doubled due to the first strike. Similarly, a third strike is often punishable by incarceration. It can range from 15 to 25 years in a state prison.
Implementation Issues of the Three Strikes Law
There are a couple of implementation issues associated with this particular issue. First and foremost, there are legal and technical issues with the law. In fact, there are a number of legal issues that need to be resolved. A few examples of specific issues include:
- A court has the authority to consider a prior conviction to be classified as a misdemeanor, instead of a felony. This can help eliminate the application of the Three Strikes law for a new offense.
- The judge has the authority to ignore a prior strike conviction – note that this can only occur without a specific request of the district attorney.
- It is still up for debate whether a felony committed by a minor can be categorized under a strike.
Suppose you or a loved one is prosecuted for a second or third strike offense. In that case, you need to hire an experienced defense attorney in the state of California, who fully comprehends the complicated three strikes laws and can draft a defense to destroy the strikes alleged against you.
Our professional criminal defense attorneys are familiar with the 3 strikes law in California. They have dealt with the nitty gritty and are well aware of the obscure details, loopholes, along with evident exceptions in the complex three strikes statutes. Our firm has dealt with many strike-related cases and has prepared many defenses for such cases.
Contact Our Three Strikes Law Attorneys Today
Our skilled criminal defense lawyers have decade’s worth of experience defending people who have been accused of crimes and are facing the three strikes law under their belts. You can trust us with your case and allow us to assist you with the complexity of the three strikes case against you. It is crucial to acknowledge that a seasoned attorney can help you every step of the way, thus providing you with mental support along with the necessary legal support. Get in touch with us today.