The “Three Strike” Rule

Since California first put a statute in place in the early 1990s, many other states across the country have enacted habitual offender, or “three strikes” rules. Nevada is one of those states. The habitual offender rules that are in place generally increase the punishments that a court can impose on an individual until the third felony, at which point the courts are required by the statute to sentence the offender to a jail sentence of life.

The purpose of the three strikes rule is really a version of deterrence. It is hoping to discourage repeat offenses among people by creating an extremely harsh punishment. The severity of a life sentence is expected to deter people from wanting to commit a crime at all. Another way it acts as a deterrent to crime is by making it somewhat impossible for people to commit additional crimes if they are locked away in jail.

In order for a person to be eligible for the three strikes rule and habitual offender statutes, he or she must commit a felony. Misdemeanor offenses generally aren’t eligible for inclusion into the three strikes rule. When committing felonies, a person doesn’t have to commit the same felony three times; any three felonies will do for the statute. The point is that the individual is committing felonies repeatedly, not the same crime repeatedly.

Because of three strikes rules, it is imperative that a person with two convictions get the best legal representation possible.

Contact a Las Vegas Criminal Defense Attorney

If you have been convicted of two felonies and have been charged with a third, Contact the Las Vegas criminal defense attorneys of William Palmer & Associates, P.C. today at 702-888-2222 for the representation you need.