The Violent Crime and Law Enforcement Act of 1994

imprisonment (for a person aged 16–17) for possession, purchase, acquisition,
manufacture, transfer or sale of a prohibited firearm or weapon for the first or
subsequent time; and a minimum of 3 years' imprisonment for a person over 18
convicted of a domestic burglary for the third or subsequent time.
Three Strikes Law
In 1994, California introduced a "Three Strikes Law", which was the first mandatory
sentencing law to gain widespread publicity. This state is known for fully enforcing laws
and is considered most severe in comparison to other states. The Three strikes law was
intended to reduce crime by implementing extended sentencing to deter repeated
offenders. This consideration further restricts one’s ability to commit new crimes.
Similar laws were subsequently adopted in most American jurisdictions.
However, California's "Three Strikes Law" is clearly outlined for all, especially those who
are subjected to such sentencing.
Strike 1
Strike 2
Strike 3
Directly affects individuals who exhibit a history regarded as violent or
serious pertaining to their initial felony conviction. Should this history exist,
it could greatly impact sentencing guidelines surrounding an individuals
present felony conviction.
An individual who has committed a crime resulting in their 2nd felony
conviction, would be affected by the second strike as well. This would
impact the length of the individuals sentencing by doubling the sentence
one would initially be subject to, if it were their first felony conviction.
Is intended individuals who appear to be repeated offenders. Therefore,
this strike is for individuals who have two or more felony convictions, their
sentencing would result in a minimum of 25 years to life.
A similar "three strikes" policy was introduced to the United Kingdom by
the Conservative government in 1997. This legislation enacted a mandatory life
sentence on a conviction for a second "serious" violent or sexual offence (i.e. "two
strikes" law), a minimum sentence of seven years for those convicted for a third time of
a drug trafficking offence involving a class A drug, and a mandatory minimum sentence
of three years for those convicted for the third time of burglary. An amendment by
the Labor opposition established that mandatory sentences should not be imposed if the
judge considered it unjust.
According to figures released by the British government in 2005, just three drug dealers
and eight burglars received mandatory sentences in the next seven years, because
judges thought a longer sentence was unjust in all other drug and burglary cases where
the defendant was found guilty. However, in 2003 a new "two strikes" law was enacted
(effective from April 4, 2005), requiring courts to presume that a criminal who commits
his second violent or dangerous offence deserves a life sentence unless the judge is
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