Lapine Law — Criminal Defense Attorney

What Is California's Three Strikes Law?

PublishedMar 24, 2025
CategorySentencing
Reading Time7 min read

California's Three Strikes Law adds dramatic prison enhancements for defendants with prior serious or violent felony convictions, as defined in Penal Code 1192.7 and 667.5.

How It Works

One prior strike doubles the sentence on the new felony. Two prior strikes generally trigger a 25-to-life term — but after Proposition 36 (2012), the new offense must also be serious or violent to qualify for the life term in most cases.

Striking The Strike

Under People v. Superior Court (Romero), judges can dismiss prior strikes in the interest of justice. A well-supported Romero motion is often the difference between probation and decades in prison.

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