In California there is a law known as the "3-Strikes Law." Other states such as Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, and a few other states have also adopted this law. (2) This "3-Strikes and Your Out Law," states that if a person has two previous violent or serious felony convictions, he or she is sentenced to a life sentence with no chance of parole.(1) It also states that if a person has one previous violent or serious felony conviction (which includes burglary of an unoccupied dwelling) he or she is sentenced to twice the term prescribed by law for each new felony. (1) California has taken this law to an extreme. Petty crimes such as shoplifting and forgery may result in a 25years to life sentencing. Why should taxpayers have their hard-earned money taken away because the state has petty thieves and con artists serving life sentences? This law is ridiculous! It shouldn't be applied to small crimes that aren't violent or serious. The innocent felons in jail for such small crimes must feel so helpless. What are these convicted felons doing about the severity of this law? The "3-Strikes Law" is completely unconstitutional and there should be amendments to such a harsh law. Will this law actually decrease the crime rates in the country?
             On November 18, 1999, a man facing a possible life sentence under the "3-Strikes Law" was found dead with his girlfriend in an apparent double suicide. After the man failed to appear in court, fearing this law, he and his girlfriend were found in his van dead from carbon monoxide poisoning. The man's charge was the possession of less than an ounce of marijuana and .07grams of methamphetamine, plus a weapons violation. The court offered this man 120 days of imprisonment for a guilty plea, but it was his third offence (3 charges) and under California law, that's imprisonment for life. (3) "The law requires that the 3-Strikes charge be filed whenever prior convictions are discove...