California Three Strikes Law

Ventura Criminal Defense Attorney

The Three Strikes Law has the purpose of imposing increased penalties for those offenders who commit repeat felonies. In terms of implementation, California is one of the states that are the strictest about putting this law into practice. If a person is convicted of a serious or violent felony, he will be facing a "strike" on his criminal record. If that person is convicted of a second felony offense, then, because of the prior strike, double penalties will be imposed. If there is a third felony conviction, he will be sentenced to 25 years to life in prison, hence the expression, "three strikes and you are out".

This state's Three Strikes Law is very tough, as it is not only very violent crimes for which the offender receives a strike, but for any serious, non-violent felony. Additionally, if the third strike is not an extremely serious or violent one, such as felony shoplifting or felony DUI, the offender will be facing 25 years to life, as he has 2 prior strikes. If he has prior petty theft convictions in addition to the 2 strikes, the sentence may very well be life in prison.

Types of "Three Strikes" Crimes

Some "third strike" crimes include:

• Murder
• Forcible rape
• Voluntary manslaughter
• First degree robbery
• Attempted murder
• Lewd acts with a child under the age of 14
• Any felony that is punishable by life in prison or death
• Carjacking
• Kidnapping
• First degree burglary
• Arson
• Any felony committed with a deadly weapon