Born of Grief, ‘Three Strikes’ Laws Are Being Rethought

The “three strikes” law, which mandates a minimum 25 year prison sentence for repeat offenders, was first enacted on the West Coast in 1993. In this Retro Report video, the history and effectiveness of the “three strikes” law is examined. The video looks at the distinction between violent and nonviolent crimes and whether individuals who commit petty crimes should spend 25-years-to-life in prison.

The “three strikes” law, which mandates a minimum 25 year prison sentence for repeat offenders, was first enacted on the West Coast in 1993. In this Retro Report video, the history and effectiveness of the “three strikes” law is examined. The video looks at the distinction between violent and nonviolent crimes and whether individuals who commit petty crimes should spend 25-years-to-life in prison. Last year, Proposition 36 reformed California’s three strikes law, qualifying 3,000 non-violent offenders eligible for release from prison.