Last is why are these offenders permitted to commit the same crime over and over again. These laws were intended to deter and incapacitate repeat offenders by mandating an indeterminate term of life imprisonments for recidivists (Mann,1995).
Three Strike Laws.
What are three strike laws? Three strike laws are laws that were passed by legislature saying that people convicted of a third felony receive a mandatory life sentence. Some candidates advocate "Two Strikes" or "One Strike," which generally means more mandatory sentencing, less judicial discretion, and less chance of early parole. Some legislatures feel that three strike laws have stricter penalties that will reduce crimes, and will reduce judicial discretion (Wilson,2000). Today, a total of 40 states have laws that lengthen the sentences of repeat criminals. Twenty-six of the 40 states, as well as the federal government, have specifically enacted three-strikes-you"re-out laws, which sentence previously convicted felons to 25 years to life in prison for their third felony (Mann,1995). The issue before the Supreme Court is whether some three-strikes sentencing laws result in cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the 8th Amendment, which says, "Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted." Misdemeanors can be the basis for an indeterminate life sentence (Wilson,2000).
High Risk offenders have to be monitored very closely while they are in prison (Grosshandler,1990). While most correctional systems have implemented objective .
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classification systems that have become quite effective in identifying inmates for the.
general prison population, less attention has been given to accurately classifying inmates who pose a higher risk and may require special management within the prison setting.
