How Does the Three Strikes System Work in California?

By San Diego Attorney on August 22, 2013

California’s Three Strikes Law dictates that any individual who has two prior “serious” or “violent” felony convictions, or strikes, on their record will face between 25 years to life in prison upon his or her third serious felony conviction. He or she will also be ineligible to receive parole until the minimum sentence has been served. This particular law gets its title from the baseball phrase, “three strikes and you’re out” and was enacted in an effort to deter repeat offenders from committing additional violent felony offenses.

While originally applied to all third-time criminal convictions, the Three Strikes Law was amended by Proposition 36, also known as the Three Strikes Reform Act of 2012, and now the law only applies to third strike felony convictions of a serious or violent nature. The three strikes system also affects individuals with only one “strike” on their criminal record. A first-time conviction has a certain amount of leeway in that individuals may be allowed early parole for good behavior or could be offered probation or rehabilitation services rather than serving time in prison. If an individual already has one strike on their record, he or she is required to serve at least 80% of the original prison sentence before becoming eligible for parole.

As your freedom is at stake, when facing a second or third strike conviction, you need to contact JD Law at once to discuss your case with a San Diego criminal lawyer and Board Certified Criminal Law Specialist. Our firm has extensive experience representing clients in all kinds of criminal charges. We know the laws and we know what legal avenues can be pursued to help you seek the best possible outcome for your case. In certain circumstances we may even be able to help you get one of your previous strikes dismissed, thus alleviating the possibility of facing a third strike conviction. Contact our firm today to find out how we can help.