The three strikes rule in California is not without fault. Take the situation of Curtis Wilkerson. In 1981, when he was only nineteen years old, Wilkerson was convicted of abetting two robberies. When he stole a two-and-a-half dollar pair of socks, Wilkerson was sentenced to life in prison as this was his third strike. This simply defies reason.

Law students and teachers have gotten together to bring attention to cases like Wilkerson's. These freedom fighters are working to get the releases for some of the most cruel instances of three-strike victims. While there is little sympathy for criminals in our society, it should shock our collective conscience when someone is put in jail for life as a result of stealing socks.

The history of the three strike rule is sad and ugly. When two young girls were murdered by individuals who already had criminal records, the state of California, as well as the country went into mob mode. The law was approved by an overwhelming seventy two percent of voters.

The rule is structured so that second time offenders get 2 times the regular sentence and 3 time offenders get 25 years to life in prison. But the real kicker is that for your third strike you can get life even for non-violent or serious crimes. Therefore, petty theft becomes punishable by life.

Is it possible that people are being put in jail for life for petty theft offenses in the United States? Yes. In fact, the majority of convicts in prison for getting three strikes are there for non-violent or non-serious crimes. The real result of the three strike policy has been to create an over-crowded prison system.

A California study determined that crime rates had already begun to decline prior to enactment of the three strikes rule. Further, there was no marked difference between the rates of counties who used it more than those who didn't. Additionally, the law has increased the age of inmates and increased prison spending by five hundred million dollars per year.