Three Strikes Defense in Santa Barbara, CA

About the Three Strikes Law

The state of California enacted the Three Strikes law in order to dissuade felony offenders from committing additional crimes. Under this law, any individual convicted of a serious or violent felony offense will receive an enhanced sentence for any additional felony convictions. Should the individual commit three felony offenses, he or she will face a mandatory sentence of 25 years to life in prison. While this law was passed to defend innocent individuals from violent offenders, this same law can be exceedingly harsh and unforgiving towards those convicted of a previous felony. In many cases, an individual with a former serious offense will unfairly receive an overly harsh punishment for a lesser felony. If you would like to learn more about California's Three Strikes law, you should speak to a Santa Barbara criminal defense lawyer from our firm today.

How a Criminal Defense Lawyer can help in a Three Strikes Situation

At Lessem, Newstat & Tooson, LLP, we have an unshakable belief that every individual, no matter what he or she did in the past, should be treated fairly and with dignity. The criminal justice system in California often takes an unforgiving attitude towards individuals convicted of felony offenses. In order to better understand the Three Strikes law, it is very important to understand some of the laws key points.

Under this law, any individual with a prior serious or violent felony conviction will receive an enhanced sentence for any addition felony charges, regardless of seriousness of the offense. A Second Strike offense will result in twice the term an individual would normally receive for the crime. At the Third Strike Offense, the offender will receive life imprisonment with a minimum sentence of 25 years. Should the third striker be convicted of multiple third strike offenses, he or she will receive a consecutive life sentence on top of the mandatory 25 years. With so much at stake, you should never hesitate to seek legal advice concerning the Three Strikes law.

Contact a Santa Barbara criminal defense attorney if you would like to learn more about the Three Strikes law.