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The problem with California's 3 strikes law is they don't take into account the type of felony or the time between each. Say you get caught with felony weight marijuana as a young man (18 y/o for arguments sake), 15 years later you get into a bar fight and catch a felony assault charge. After that you're done, one more little thing, the DA is going to try and make it a felony and they will lock you up and throw away the key.
New York has similar laws after 3 of the same grade (A,B,C,D, or E) felonies the judge can sentence you to life as a predicate felon. Other than that, you can have 7 felonies, all different grades and all the judge can do is sentence you to the max, if so inclined, for the grade of felony you're currently charged with. The flaw here is lets say you get caught with felony weight marijuana 3 times, you're going in the shark tank for life.
In my opinion, prison isn't the answer it does nothing but make people bitter and possibly more violent than they already are, in order to survive. Prison should only be mandatory for the worst of crimes; murder, rape, and the like. Other than that monetary restitution and community service would teach most of the low grade felons (druggies and the like) their lesson.
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