The Three Strikes Law And Public Policy Essay - 1838 Words

Brittney Seals-Johnson 12/8/16 CCJ 4497: Criminal Justice and Public Policy Final Paper The three strikes law came out of the â€Å"get tough† era in the late 70’s. The era was based on the idea that crime is the result of an offender’s choice’s and personal responsibility. During this time, the criminal justice system focused on punishment instead of rehabilitation, as the government switched to determinate based, or individualized sentencing where conviction was served in a jail or prison with a defined length of sentence, and can not be changed by a parole board or other agency. It was fair and just sentences based on the crime committed and its severity. The three strikes law was a policy that was started in Washington in 1993, and Governor Pete Wilson adopted a broader version of it in California that requires a criminal to serve a sentence of twenty-five years to life after they have been caught and convicted of a third felony. There are a total of twenty-three states and the federal government who have adopted some for of the three st rikes policy. The policy varies by each state and what crimes fall under felonies is the states discretion. For example, in Georgia, it only requires two violent felony convictions instead of three. In other states, it does not have to be a violent crime to be sent away for twenty-five to life. Different influences can lead to these types of policies. Public opinion and moral outrage are some of the ways that a policy can come about. ThreeShow MoreRelatedImpact Of The Three Strike Laws On The State Of California1679 Words   |  7 PagesThe effectiveness of the three strike laws has been a major concern among researchers; it has sparked the attention of several indidviduals from the first piece of legislation passed in the United States. This paper considers the impact of three strikes law in the state of California; a states which have implemented this form of mandatory sentencing and known to have the strictest regulations regarding this law. It will addresses the effects of th e law on the crime rate and prison populations.Read MoreReport: Ethics and Three Strikes Law736 Words   |  3 Pagesincreased amount of public and media attention directed to repeat criminal offenders. In the 1980s, crime rates increased and scholars found that a number of these criminal activities were committed by repeat offenders. In response to this information, many states began to enact the so-called Three Strikes, Youre Out Law. The proponents of this legislation, including several victims rights organizations, believe that habitual criminals do not have the desire or capacity to reform. The law mandates thatRead MoreUnethical Consequences of the Three Strikes Laws910 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿THREE STRIKES SENTENCING POLICIES ETHICAL CONCERNS (700 words) Part I (400 words) Unethical Consequences of Three Strikes Laws Zimring (1996) illustrates the inconsistency with which three strikes laws have been applied, producing unjustifiable differences in sentences for individuals with very similar criminal histories. Even more importantly, Zimrings comparison illustrates that the three strikes law in question is typically applied without any objective principle of justice or justificationRead More Three Strikes Law Essay1740 Words   |  7 PagesThree Strikes Law Recidivism is a tendency to relapse into a former pattern of behavior or a tendency to return to criminal behavior. Many studies have been conducted about criminals who begin with petty crimes (misdemeanors) that repeat the same crimes or graduate to serious crimes (felonies). The fear of repeat offenders and the increase of recidivism ignited the federal and state governments to seek harsher ways to protect citizens’ safety. Mike Reynolds a photographer whose daughter, KimberRead MoreCan Racial Profiling Be Justified1612 Words   |  7 Pages Can Racial Profiling in Law Enforcement Be Justified Cornelius Morgan CRJ 125: Criminology (W04) November 15, 2015 Abstract: In 1994 Polly Klaas was kidnapped from a slumber party at her home in California and later murdered by Richard Allen Davis who already had 2 prior convictions for kidnapping on his record. The public was outraged that a repeat offender was able to attack again. Politicians catered to this outrage and sold the public on a bill that would repeat offendersRead More235764916 CJA 394 Week 1 Criminal Justice Overview Paper SAMPLE page only1665 Words   |  7 Pagesin determinate sentencing and truth-in-sentencing laws which limit early release from prison (Albanese, 2013). Prison overcrowding in American began to increase during the 1960’s after the new crime policy known as the â€Å"War on Drugs† policy was initiated by the federal government (Richardson, 2004). The war on drugs policy was created after the large increase of drug flooding into the country after prohibition. This new get tough on crime policy required prison offenders to serve harsher sentencesRead MoreProblems With The Three Strikes Legislation1610 Words   |  7 PagesProblems with the Three Strikes Legislation Cornelius Morgan CRJ 125: Criminology (W04) November 15, 2015 Abstract: In 1994 Polly Klaas was kidnapped from a slumber party at her home in California and later murdered by Richard Allen Davis who already had 2 prior convictions for kidnapping on his record. The public was outraged that a repeat offender was able to attack again. Politicians catered to this outrage and sold the public on a bill that would repeat offenders off the streetsRead MoreProblems with the Three Strikes Laws Essays1502 Words   |  7 Pagesmost controversial laws in the efforts to reduce crime has been the three-strikes laws that have been enacted. This law, which is already in twenty-seven states, requires that offenders convicted of three violent crimes be sentenced to life in prison without chance of parole. The law is based on the idea that the majority of felonies are committed by about 6% of hard core criminals and that crime can be eliminated by getting these criminals off the streets. Unfortunately, the law fails to take intoRead MoreThe Three Strike Law : Does It Act ually Work? Essay1714 Words   |  7 Pages The Three Strike Law: Does it Actually Work? By Marissa Smith United States throughout history has tried many different ways to deter criminals from committing crime. One of the more famous polices enforced was the Three Strikes sentencing laws, and other â€Å"get tough† approaches. In 1994, the Three Strikes sentencing law was first established (Couzens, J. Richards and Tricia A. Bigelow). The law stated that any defendant convicted of any new felony, having been convicted before of aRead MoreThe Problem Of Prison Overcrowding1572 Words   |  7 Pagessystem, healthcare laws, unemployment and economic situations, not to mention the ongoing water drought crisis†¦all of which are major dilemmas in California. One major dilemma, however, is often ignored. Over the past 30 odd years, California’s prison population has grown by 750 percent (â€Å"California’s Perpetuating Prison Crisis†). As this percentage perpetuates to make substantial gains, inmates are suffering in confinement cells, officials are negotiating over the issue, and the public is protesting