Rationale Underlying the Three Strike Laws
While much has been hypothesized regarding the three strike laws, it is essential to note that they connote to the mandate accorded to state courts, which allows them to accord stiffer penalties to consistent offenders found liable for committing three or more crimes (Domanick, 2004). There exist various rationales that were considered when these laws were ordained. The first rationale that was considered aligns with the fact that enactment of these laws would offer a comprehensive platform in which the society could curb various forms of crime. Worth noting is the fact that through the enactment of these laws, societies have become more safer because worst criminals are convicted for longer; hence, resulting in reduction of crimes in the society. Another rationale that was considered was the fact that ex-felons were often involved in high profile crimes such as murder (Walsh, 2007).
How the three strike laws have been amended in the recent years
Worth noting is the fact that there exists a number of amendments that have been made on the three strike laws since its inception. Precisely, close to sixteen states out of the twenty four that had enacted the three strike laws have made major change s on these laws. One of the major amendments that have been made on these laws is that certain states have replaced mandatory sentences accorded by these laws with sentencing ranges. In fact, mandatory life imprisonment without parole penalties merged with these laws has been eliminated (Robinson, 2013). In addition, sentencing options dictated by the three strike laws have been changed whereby mandatory greatest prison terms have been changed to maximum and minimum ranges. On another note, amendments have been made on the three strike laws whereby judicial discretion on these laws has been increased.
References
Domanick, J. (2004). Cruel justice: Three strikes and the politics of crime in America's golden state. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Robinson, P. H. (2013). Intuitions of justice and the utility of desert. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Walsh, J. E. (2007). Three strikes laws. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press.
