Officially known as the Habitual Offender Law; “Three strikes” laws have become commonplace in 29 states (Chern) within the United States and in the federal court system; These laws were designed to combat criminal recidivism through the prison system. The idea behind the laws was to maximize the deterrent and selective incapacitation effect of the criminal justice system; According to this theory of deterrence, individuals would be deterred from committing criminal activities by the threat of state-imposed incarceration. Californians passed the "three strikes" law (Proposition 184) on March 7, 1994 by a vote of 72% with the intention of reducing crime by targeting serious repeat offenders with long-term incarceration thus eliminating the possibility of committing another crime. Some unusual scenarios have taken place due to these laws, particularly in California; some defendants were sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for minor crimes such as shoplifting golf clubs or stealing a slice of pizza from a child on the beach, or a double sentence of 50 years to life in prison for stealing nine videotapes from two different stores while child molesters, rapists and murderers serve only a few years. As a result of some of these scenarios, the three strikes rulings have drawn harsh criticism not only within the United States but also outside the country (Campbell). Many questions have now arisen regarding “three strikes” laws as alternatives to incarceration for non-heinous crimes: What would happen if the state got rid of “strikes” and ensured that those convicted of a serious crime serve their full sentence? It is imperative to compare the benefits, costs, and alternatives to incarceration when... middle of paper... Reynolds, Mike. 15 years before "Three Strikes" to 15 years after "Three Strikes"!. Np, 2009. Web. 7 May 2015..Schiraldi, Vincent. “Three strikes and you're out: an examination of the impact of strike laws 10 years after they came into force.” Institute for Justice Policy. Justice Policy Institute, March 2004. Web. May 12, 2015. Pastore, Joanna. “The Fear of the First Strike: California's Full Deterrent Effect.” Journal of Legal Studies 31.1 (2002): 159-201. Network. May 12, 2015. "Three strikes and you're out of law." analysis of the 1995-1996 financial law. Office of the Legislative Analyst, February 22, 1995. Web. May 13 2015. .