Three-strikes law

Three-strikes laws, or habitual offender laws, are laws that impact the punishment for a crime.^[1] Under a three-strikes law, if a person was convicted of three serious crimes, they will have to go to prison for life after their third crime.^[2][3][4] Three-strikes laws are used in many states of the USA. They are part of the United States Justice Department's Anti-Violence Strategy.^[5][6]

In most states, only crimes at the felony level qualify as serious crimes. In some places, only violent felonies qualify as serious.

The expression "Three strikes and you are out" comes from baseball. If a batter gets three strikes, they strike out.

1. ↑ White, Ahmed (2006). "The Juridical Structure of Habitual Offender Laws and the Jurisprudence of Authoritarian Social Control". Archived from the original on 2019-11-27. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
2. ↑ "1032. Sentencing Enhancement – "Three Strikes" Law | USAM | Department of Justice". www.justice.gov. 2015-02-20. Retrieved 2017-03-23.
3. ↑ Meese, Edwin (1994-01-01). "Three-Strikes Laws Punish and Protect". Federal Sentencing Reporter. 7 (2): 58–60. doi:10.2307/20639746. JSTOR 20639746.
4. ↑ "Three Strikes Law – A General Summary". www.sandiegocounty.gov. Retrieved 2017-03-23.
5. ↑ "Anti-Violence Strategy | USAO | Department of Justice". www.justice.gov. Retrieved 2017-03-23.
6. ↑ "1032. Sentencing Enhancement – "Three Strikes" Law – USAM – Department of Justice". www.justice.gov. 2015-02-20. Retrieved 21 March 2018.