Three Strike Laws Essay -- Law Laws Argumentative Persuasive papers

Three Strike Laws Mandatory minimums and three strike laws, are they really the answer to the crime problem America has faced for years? Many would say yes, including me, as long as it is for a violent crime such as murder, rape or arson; some feel that even theft, drug trafficking or possession, and burglary are all worthy of the 25-to-life sentence that can be carried under the mandatory minimums for three strike laws. A three-strike law is a law that states that you will be sentenced to 25years to life for three violations and convictions of a law. Where the three strike laws have mandatory sentences, mandatory sentences aren’t always tied in with three strike laws. A mandatory minimum is a law that requires someone serve a predetermined amount of time in prison for specific offenses and the only way to have it reduced is by assisting the authorities in further convictions of others. In California a man was sentenced under the three strike laws for theft because he had two prior convictions. This man had been convicted of robbery and attempted robbery; therefore the slice of pizza he stole got him 25 years to life in prison (Lungren Trumpets ‘Three Strikes’ Law). Yes now, in California, you can be sent to prison for life if you take a slice of pizza from someone. Let’s talk about how fair these laws are. Many say that these laws are used to profile African Americans and inner-city minorities primarily by the sentencing difference in rock and powder cocaine. There is a difference in the two forms and how they’re sold. Cocaine can be bought and sold as powder or rocks, also known as crack or crack cocaine. The effects of each are essentially the same. People will get the same effects with powder as w... ...ad, Peter. â€Å"Mandatory Sentences: Putting the Record Straight† Contemporary Review 270.1573 (1997): 57-61. Easton, Steve. â€Å"Incarceration Aids Drug Fight.† USA Today 30 Sept. 2002: News A11. Free, Jr. Marvin D. â€Å"The Impact of Federal Sentencing Reforms on African Americans.† Journal of Black Studies 28.2 (1997): 268-287. Goodwin, Catherine M. â€Å"Determining Mandatory Minimums In Drug Conspiracy Cases.† Federal Probation 59.1 (1995): 74-79. Heath, Erin. â€Å"One-Track Justice.† National Journal 33.34 (2001): 2614-2617. Locy, Toni and Joan Biskupic. â€Å"U.S. Panel to Urge Change in Crack Penalties.† USA Today 4 Aug. 2002: News A3. Stodghill, II, Ron. â€Å"Unequal Justice: Why Women Fare Worse.† Time 2 Jan. 1999: 50-52. Taylor Jr., Stewart. â€Å"Good Pardons, Bad Laws, and Bush’s Unique Opportunity.† National Journal 33.7 (2001): 466-468.