Leandro Andrade, a criminal and drug addict who has been in and out of jail for 15 years
for burglaries, transportation of marijuana, petty theft and escaping from prison was convicted with two consecutive years of 25 years to life in prison for petty theft with prior convictions. It was determined that he had violated California’s three strikes law because of his petty theft with a prior that was considered a felony instead of misdemeanors. The California Court of Appeal affirmed the judgement against Andrade claiming that it didn’t violate the Constitution’s 8th amendment.. The Ninth Circuit then reviewed his appeal and concluded that the sentence was grossly disappropriate. The State of California then filed a writ that the Supreme Court …show more content…
Studies show that repeated heroin use results to dependence and uncontrollable drug seeking no matter the consequence, which describes his situation and priorities perfectly. The California three strikes law is for those criminals who can’t be reconstruct their lives either because of a mental illness or in Andrade’s case, a substance abuser who isn’t willing to stop due to their criminal mentality. The importance this of this law is to get people to learn from the mistakes they’ve made in the past; Although Andrade doesnt seem to learn anything especially after being in prison for so many …show more content…
Putting Andrade in prison not because of his petty theft but also because of all his other convictions, just protects the people in our nation from danger. Enacting this law gives people the chance to right their wrongs. They’ve been given the opportunity to take on a new path and start their lives over knowing what the consequences will be if they dont. People like Andrade took advantage of the three strikes law. He has committed crimes over and over again simply because he’s no longer aware of the crimes he’s committing due to his dependency on drugs. The California three strikes law protects our citizens and gives them the security they so rightfully deserve by keeping these habitual offenders in
for burglaries, transportation of marijuana, petty theft and escaping from prison was convicted with two consecutive years of 25 years to life in prison for petty theft with prior convictions. It was determined that he had violated California’s three strikes law because of his petty theft with a prior that was considered a felony instead of misdemeanors. The California Court of Appeal affirmed the judgement against Andrade claiming that it didn’t violate the Constitution’s 8th amendment.. The Ninth Circuit then reviewed his appeal and concluded that the sentence was grossly disappropriate. The State of California then filed a writ that the Supreme Court …show more content…
Studies show that repeated heroin use results to dependence and uncontrollable drug seeking no matter the consequence, which describes his situation and priorities perfectly. The California three strikes law is for those criminals who can’t be reconstruct their lives either because of a mental illness or in Andrade’s case, a substance abuser who isn’t willing to stop due to their criminal mentality. The importance this of this law is to get people to learn from the mistakes they’ve made in the past; Although Andrade doesnt seem to learn anything especially after being in prison for so many …show more content…
Putting Andrade in prison not because of his petty theft but also because of all his other convictions, just protects the people in our nation from danger. Enacting this law gives people the chance to right their wrongs. They’ve been given the opportunity to take on a new path and start their lives over knowing what the consequences will be if they dont. People like Andrade took advantage of the three strikes law. He has committed crimes over and over again simply because he’s no longer aware of the crimes he’s committing due to his dependency on drugs. The California three strikes law protects our citizens and gives them the security they so rightfully deserve by keeping these habitual offenders in