How have courts interpreted the meaning of the Three Strikes law in the context of reduced sentences for "heroic acts"?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from In re Young, 12 Cal.Rptr.3d 48, 32 Cal.4th 900, 87 P.3d 797 (Cal. 2004):

The purpose of the Three Strikes law is "to ensure longer prison sentences and greater punishment for those who commit a felony and have been previously convicted of serious and/or violent felony offenses." ( 667, subd. (b) [legislative intent applicable to subds. (b)-(i) inclusive].) Allowing Three Strikes prisoners to receive at most a one-year sentence reduction for performing a heroic act ( 2935) does not undermine this purpose: these recidivist prisoners are still serving longer sentences than first-time offenders. Moreover, "our decisions make clear that this purpose is not a mantra that the prosecution can invoke in any Three Strikes case to compel the court to construe the statute so as to impose the longest possible sentence." (People v. Garcia (1999) 20 Cal.4th 490, 501, 85 Cal.Rptr.2d 280, 976 P.2d 831.)

Other Questions


How have courts interpreted the meaning of the word "interpretation" in the context of a section of the California Workers' Comp. Act? (California, United States of America)
Does a codefendant's sentence under the Three Strikes Act have to be considered extrinsic to the trial court's exercise of its limited discretion to strike a prior conviction? (California, United States of America)
Is a defendant entitled to a reduced sentence from a sentencing court where the sentencing court was unaware of the scope of its discretionary powers? (California, United States of America)
Can remand a defendant on remand be reduced to a reduced sentence even if the sentence was not reduced at the time of sentencing? (California, United States of America)
In what circumstances will the trial court deny defendant's motion to strike a prior conviction under the Three Strikes Act? (California, United States of America)
Can a defendant who is serving a sentence under the Three Strikes Act apply for habeas corpus to challenge the sentence on appeal? (California, United States of America)
How have courts interpreted section 1016.5 of the California Immigration Code and how have the courts interpreted the word 'court' in that section? (California, United States of America)
What is the test for interpreting the meaning of the word "reasonable and common sense interpretation" in the context of the California Civil Code of Civil Procedure Act? (California, United States of America)
How have courts interpreted the meaning of section 1170.126, subdivision (e)(2)(C)(iii) of the three strikes law? (California, United States of America)
How have courts interpreted the meaning of the California Civil Code in the context of "Liberal interpretation"? (California, United States of America)
X



Alexi white


"The most advanced legal research software ever built."

Trusted by top litigators from across North America.