LEGAL SYSTEM »» LAWS »» THREE STRIKES LAWS »» Nov 20, 2023

Twenty-eight states have some form of a "three-strikes" law on their books. Three Strikes laws are statutes enacted by state and federal governments which require courts to impose harsher sentences on habitual offenders who are convicted of three or more serious crimes. However, there have been many different interpretations as to what is considered a serious crime. As a result, defendants with previous convictions have been given sentences of 25 years to life for such crimes as shoplifting golf clubs or stealing a slice of pizza from a child. Under the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, the "Three Strikes" statute was supposed to provide for mandatory life imprisonment if a convicted felon has been convicted in federal court of a “serious violent felony", and has two or more previous convictions in federal or state courts, at least one of which is a serious violent felony. Serious violent felonies include murder, manslaughter, sex offenses, kidnapping and robbery, among others. Advocates say that after the hype leading to the passage of these laws died out, it was soon apparent they were not bringing the results the public expected. Data shows Three Strikes laws didn’t necessarily reduce violent crime but instead put away more “criminals” for nonviolent and petty crimes, dramatically increasing our prison population. Studies show that higher incarceration rates do not necessarily lead to less crime. Some states have ruled that Three Strikes laws are unconstitutional on the grounds they violate the 6th Amendment guarantee of trial by jury. Proposed Legislation: Introduce legislation to repeal the Three Strikes laws provision in the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 Prospective Sponsor: Rep. Maxine Waters (CA) I oppose reforming current Three Strikes law policy and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Speaker Mike Johnson (LA). I support introducing legislation to repeal the Three Strikes laws provision in the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Maxine Waters (CA) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.

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I support introducing legislation to repeal the Three Strikes laws provision in the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Maxine Waters (CA) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.

Trustee Candidates

Representative If elected as a trustee, the campaign committee of Rep. Maxine Waters (CA) will be unconditionally awarded the funds pledged to this issue along with a letter requesting her to favorably consider introducing legislation to repeal the Three Strikes laws provision in the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. American Civil Liberties Union If elected as a trustee, the American Civil Liberties Union will be awarded the funds pledged to this issue along with a letter requesting these funds be used to advocate for prohibiting Three Strikes laws. About: The ACLU was founded to ensure the promise of the Bill of Rights and to expand its reach to people historically denied its protections. With 4 million members, activists, and supporters across the country, the ACLU is a nationwide organization with a 50-state network of staffed affiliate offices filing cases in both state and federal courts. We appear before the Supreme Court more than any other organization except the Department of Justice.

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