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Simple English definitions for legal terms
three strikes
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A quick definition of three strikes:
Three strikes is a law that gives harsher punishments to people who commit serious crimes multiple times. If someone commits a violent crime for the third time, they may be sentenced to life in prison. This law applies across different states, so if someone commits a serious crime in one state, it can count as a strike in another state. Some people have challenged this law, saying it is cruel and unusual punishment, but the Supreme Court has mostly allowed it. The court says that states have a good reason to want to stop repeat offenders and can make their own rules about punishment.
A more thorough explanation:
Three strikes, also known as three-strikes law, is a legal system that imposes harsher punishments on repeat offenders. This means that if a person commits a serious crime for the third time, they will receive a much longer sentence, often a life sentence.
For example, in California, if a person is convicted of a felony and has previously been convicted of two or more serious or violent felonies, they must receive a life sentence. Similarly, in New Jersey, a person who has been convicted of two or more crimes on separate occasions will be sentenced to life imprisonment with no eligibility for parole.
Three-strikes laws are designed to reduce violent crime and address individuals who have not been deterred by other forms of punishment. However, they have been challenged on the grounds that they violate the Eighth Amendment, which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. Despite these challenges, the Supreme Court has upheld three-strikes laws, stating that states have a valid interest in deterring and segregating habitual criminals.
For example, if a person is convicted of armed robbery twice and then commits a third armed robbery, they will receive a much longer sentence under the three-strikes law. This is because they have demonstrated a pattern of violent behavior and have not been deterred by previous punishments.
In conclusion, three strikes is a legal system that imposes harsher punishments on repeat offenders. It is designed to reduce violent crime and address individuals who have not been deterred by other forms of punishment.