The California Three Strikes Law:

While a felony conviction can be a disaster anywhere, the California Three Strikes Law is especially severe—making California the worst state in which to face a felony conviction.
California Penal Code section 667, the “Three Strikes and You’re Out” felony law, requires that repeat offenders face increasingly elevated punishments.

• If a defendant has one strike and is convicted of a second, a limit on good behavior sentence reductions is imposed.
• A previously convicted felon facing “second strike” sentencing automatically faces a doubled prison sentence—before sentencing is even read.
• If a defendant has two strikes and is convicted of a third, “Three Strikes” comes into full effect, and the accused is automatically sentenced for 25 years to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Under California Penal Code section 666, (Petty Theft with a Prior), a person previously convicted of a theft-related crime faces California felony penalties if he/she commits another theft-related crime. This means that a “two strikes” defendant charged with a minor shoplifting misdemeanor will be upgraded to a felony charge—and 25 years to life in prison.

Stephen G. Rodriguez is an experienced Los Angeles Felony Attorney. If you have been charged with a Felony in Los Angeles, and need a criminal defense attorney, call Stephen G. Rodriguez at (213) 223-2173.