NCJ Number
155752
Journal
Law Enforcement Quarterly Dated: (May-July 1995) Pages: 9-16,35
Date Published
1995
Length
9 pages
Annotation
The "three strikes" law was signed into law by the San Diego, California, legislature in 1994 to keep violent criminals off the streets.
Abstract
The law applies to defendants convicted of any current felony who have one or more prior serious or violent felony convictions which have been pled and proved. Nonetheless, some police officers, lawyers, and judges do not fully understand the law's provisions. What most police officers realize, however, is that safety fundamentals are more important than ever since the "three strikes" law may cause repeat offenders to be more violent and assault police officers. Because police officers cannot identify a criminal as a two or three striker, they should be aware of basic safety tactics in all situations. Police officers should always notify the dispatcher of their location, trust their instincts, never hesitate to request a cover unit, and practice contact and cover. The author notes that some jurisdictions have established special courtrooms to hear "three strike" cases and ensure consistent application of the law. 4 figures and 2 photographs