LEGAL SYSTEM »» LAWS »» THREE STRIKES LAWS »» Feb 08, 2021

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