Three Strikes

California Three Strikes Law

Santa Cruz Criminal Defense Lawyer

The California 3 Strikes Law labels certain criminal offenses as "strikes." Once a person gains a third strike, he or she can be sent to prison for life.

The law was intended to keep dangerous repeat offenders off the streets, but there are many horror stories of non-violent people falling victim to the law. An 18-year old with two burglaries on his record who is arrested for possessing a bit of meth at age 20 can spend the rest of his life in prison.

Attorney John W. Thornton can not only help you understand the California Three Strikes Law -- he may also be able to help you avoid getting a strike in the first place. He speaks with potential clients in free phone consultations; contact us to set up an appointment.

What Counts as a Strike?

There are few hard and fast simple rules about what constitutes a strike and what does not. One definite rule, however, is that misdemeanors, such as most DUI / DWI charges, are never strikes. Some felony charges result in strikes, and some do not; it depends both on the crime, your situation, and whether your attorney can negotiate to keep a strike off your record.

To guard against gaining a strike, you need a lawyer who knows the laws well. Attorney Thornton has more than 15 years of experience in criminal defense, and has handled California (strikes) cases since the inception of the California Three Strikes Law. He can help you determine whether:

• Your offense does or does not fit in to the Three Strikes program
• You can use one of the possible safety valves that do not involve prison.

These depend on the crime, and include such measures as drug treatment or plea bargaining.

Keep in mind also strikes gained in a 1st or 2nd offense can be stricken from your record after the fact. If a judge finds good enough reason to not treat previous convictions as strikes, he or she can strike them and bring about a lesser sentence. Judges make these decisions based both upon the person involved and the severity of the crime.

Santa Cruz lawyer John W. Thornton helps people with the California 3 Strike Law in Santa Cruz County, including Santa Cruz, Aptos, Ben Lomond, Big Basin, Boulder Creek, Brookdale, Capitola, Corralitos, Davenport, Felton, Freedom, La Selva Beach, Las Lomas, Lompico, Los Gatos, Mount Hermon, Pajaro, Paradise Park, Rio del Mar, Royal Oaks, Scotts Valley, Seacliff, Seascape, Soquel and Watsonville.