Though “rough around the edges” may describe the current landscape in which laws and public safety coexist in California, some of the most soothing and palatial exterior.

California’s Three Strikes law, which is a three-tier legal doctrine implemented by several U.S. states that imposes increased sentences on individuals who have been convicted of at least three sexual or violent crimes, has been part of the legal landscape for many years, but its historical roots and even its ongoing validity are sometimes somewhat hazy.

In essence, the Three Strikes Law’s means that after someone has been convicted of two serious felonies, any subsequent felony can carry a sentence of 25 years to life in prison. Under the California Three Strikes Law, felonies include murder, attempted murder, rape and certain other sex crimes, robbery, carjacking, and kidnapping. However, the law applies only to those who have been convicted of a felony. Other crimes such as shoplifting, DUI, drug possession or other non-violent crimes, do not count as strikes. If someone is convicted of a third felony strike and sentence and the district attorney files a motion for strike sentencing, a judge will then decide whether to impose a life sentence. The law itself contains no provisions for parole after the third strike; people convicted under the law serve the full sentence. The Three Strikes Law also increases the sentence of a conviction for a misdemeanor if the person has been convicted of a prior felony strike. Conviction of a first misdemeanor is generally punished by up to six months in county jail, while conviction of a misdemeanor by a person with a felony strike is punished by up to one year in county jail. Additionally, a person convicted of a prior felony strike may be sentenced to additional time on a new felony charge if that person has previous felony strike convictions. A first felony conviction may be punished by up to three years in state prison. A second felony, depending upon the nature of the crime, may be punished by up to five years in state prison. Conviction of a third felony by a person with two felony strike convictions may result in a life sentence. The commitment to preserving justice in an ongoing way, even in circumstances that in some cases some may deem rather extreme, bespeaks of an inherent value system that resonates throughout California and those who contribute to the fullest experience of outdoor living spaces. To wit, in the past two decades since the law has been implemented, a lot of time and money has been invested in toughening laws as well as increasing drug and gang-related police efforts. How has this impacted general perceptions of safety and tranquility in the Golden State? As a starting point, legal advocates as well as those who are concerned as citizens of the state are generally agreed that the law has succeeded in delivering on its promise to make streets and neighborhoods safer, leading to crime rates that are reportedly lower than they have been in 30 years. However, the administration of the law has been more complex. For instance, its implementation has led to higher incarceration rates and a bulging prison population. Moreover, in terms of the battering of human rights, it has resulted in overcrowded conditions that virtually guarantee violations. Those incarcerated are often subject to unsafe housing, minimal and inadequate medical care, and an increased risk of contracting infectious diseases. In terms of alignment of state-level legal changes and citizen wellness and consistency, it seems that it is increasingly important that the spaces in which citizens reside psychologically align with the legal systems they inhabit. While state laws such as the does california still have the three strikes law, as well as the related laws regarding recidivism and the increasing length of sentences could be seen as a complicated system aimed at a monopolizing social welfare, in general poor and working individuals find it difficult to even exist unhindered as a citizen. As such, it becomes essential for them to be able to consistently coexist with the law and to be able to transcend their social and criminal status as often as possible. In finding peace in a decidedly chaotic system, people need to be able to rely on havens such as those offered by proper outdoor spaces. In California, that sanctuary has been found in the form of outdoor spaces, such as the backyard – a quite appropriate counterpoint to the stresses of social and legal systems that is often safe, private and serene. In light of the psychological, physical and social therapy that such spaces offer to California citizens who may feel the brunt of criminal laws such as the Three Strikes Law, it is reassuring for those who seek sanctuary from the stresses of the larger society to know that there is one provider who creates the opportunity for maximizing serenity. That would be Sunflower Pool and Patio, with its emphasis on custom pool and spa settings that take into consideration general lifestyle choices, preferences and style.

For more information on the implications of the Three Strikes Law, you can visit the Wikipedia page on Three Strikes Laws.