Three Strikes Laws
In recent years the surge in the population of the world has brought about new areas of concern for sociologists and criminologists. With more and more people populated our nation there is greater need for government-regulated programs to adapt with the increase. One aspect of society that has had to rapidly adjust itself constantly is the Criminal Justice system. The growing population has put pressure on the criminal justice system to decide on a method of maintaining order. There are currently two broad scopes on dealing with the problem of population control; one is the idea that we need to establish a system that keeps offenders out of prison, offering alternative punishments than incarceration to keep prisons from overcrowding. Another idea is that we need to make an example that will deter others from committing similar acts of deviance. It is this ideology that has berthed the new wave of "zero-tolerance" justice. A form of this is the new concept of mandatory minimums. These laws require a pre-defined punishment for certain crimes no matter what the situation. A subset of these laws is the "three strikes laws" that are being adopted by more and more states. These laws give a three-time offender a very harsh pu
The rest of his life has been decided for him, not by the prosecution, and not by the judge, but instead by the state government. Due to the "three-strikes law" our friend has "struck out", his third offense lands him a strict punishment. Because he has already accrued two felony convictions prior to this one, regardless that they were non-violent, he is going to be sent up the river, sharing a sentence with serial killers, rapists, and bank robbers...only difference is that they all have a chance for parole. In summary I feel that mandatory minimum sentencing laws are only truly effective on paper. There are too many mitigating factors that affect their true form when being exercised. Whether it be human bias, or prejudice there won't be a means of ever having a regulation that works across the board. Problems with these regulations include the broad range of crimes it associates together, who it is really effecting, and is it really the best means of improving our society. These laws need to have a focus on only violent crimes against people to prevent abuse of the regulations and overcrowding in our prisons. I believe that those people who act against another in a way that injures the victim in a way that cannot be reversed belong locked away for a long time, but those who are merely trying to play the hand dealt to them by society simply need guidance. If society is going to punish someone for an act of deviance they must be sure that the individual is offered a chance at legitimate means, otherwise who is really to blame? 10. "Three strikes, you're hoodwinked". Economist. v330 n7849. Feb 5, 1994. p. 16-18. nishment once convicted of his or her third crime regardless of any mitigating factors. The second problem that I identified from the reading was the criminal population that was being effected most by mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines. The original idea was that these laws would keep serious and violent offenders off the streets, but in fact eighty-five percent of those who fall under the blanket of three-strikes laws are felons convicted of minor felonies such as drug possession, or petty theft. We are filling and overfilling our nations prisons with people, who are given sentences that deny rehabilitation, when the focus should be on punishing them and trying to prepare them for a functional existence in society. For mandatory minimum laws to be effective they need to have a clearly defined focus on crimes that have a clear victim, and committed in a violent manner, with serious results. If a man walks out on a four-dollar bill for lunch is he seriously injuring the restaurant? Is this an action deserving to be
Some common words found in the essay are:
Criminal Justice, ABA Journal, , Nick Three-strikes, Crime Delinquency, mandatory minimum, National Review, Brandon Assessing, Policy Review, Journal July, Federal Probation, minimum sentencing, mandatory minimum sentencing, mandatory minimums, minimum laws, justice system, mandatory minimum laws, three-strikes laws, criminal justice system, laws require, mitigating factors, economist v330, 5 pages,
Approximate Word count = 1800
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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