threestrikes

Three strikes is a term used to describe two related ideas in American contexts: the baseball rule that ends an at-bat after three strikes, and a set of criminal-justice statutes known as Three Strikes laws that impose lengthy sentences after a third qualifying felony.

In baseball, three strikes means the batter is out. A strike is called when a pitched ball enters the strike zone and the batter does not swing, or when the batter swings and misses. The count is reset after each at-bat. Fouls count toward strikes up to two strikes, and certain foul balls can affect the strike count in specific situations. The three-strikes rule is a core element of the sport’s structure and strategy.

Three Strikes laws are sentencing statutes enacted in many U.S. states beginning in the 1990s. They typically require long prison terms, sometimes life imprisonment, for a defendant convicted of a third qualifying felony offense. The design and scope vary by jurisdiction: some laws apply only to violent felonies, others count any felony; some impose mandatory minimums with limited judicial discretion, while others offer limited parole opportunities for certain offenders. A third strike can trigger automatic or enhanced penalties, depending on the law.

Impact and criticism of Three Strikes laws have been widely debated. Proponents cite deterrence and incapacitation, while critics highlight limited evidence of deterrence, high costs, prison overcrowding, and disproportionate effects on minority and low-income communities. Reforms have occurred in several states, notably California’s 2012 amendments that narrowed applicability to nonviolent offenses in many cases and expanded parole review. Ongoing debates address fairness, effectiveness, and cost, with varying patterns of reform across states.