Chapter 9 in the textbook, "Sentencing," focuses on the sentences of convicted criminal offenders and contains considerable discussion of three-strikes laws, support and criticism of three-strikes laws, and the research on three-strikes laws (see section titled "Three-Strikes Legislation"). The federal report 2018 Update on Prisoner Recidivism: A 9-Year Follow-up Period (2005-2014) focuses on recidivism and shows that, overall, the majority of persons released from prison continue to engage in crime.

Write an essay which briefly summarizes (i) three-strikes laws and the research on effects (or lack thereof) of such laws on crime rates, (ii) the research on recidivism among released prisoners, and (iii) YOUR VIEWS on whether three-strikes laws should or should not be utilized. In other words, although the research on the effect of three-strikes laws on crime rates is inconclusive (some studies suggest the laws reduce crime rates, some studies suggest the laws do not reduce crime rates, and some studies suggest the laws contribute to an increase in crime), three-strikes laws do help keep repeat offenders off the streets, but at a substantial cost to the American taxpayer.In short, do YOU THINK three strikes laws are humane and/or do YOU THINK three strikes laws are worth the cost to the taxpayer?