Includes bibliographical references (p. 259-284) and index.

The passage of AB971 -- The social construction of common criminals in the U.S. -- U.S. crime in the 1980s and 1990s -- California voters -- California initiatives and the three strikes law -- The three strikers and the counties that created them -- Discretion and the three strikes law -- Los Angeles County -- San Francisco and Alameda Counties -- Kern, Kings, and Del Norte Counties -- Orange County -- Policy research and constitutional analysis -- The element of randomness and lack of democracy -- The politics of three strikes after 1994 -- Justice and democracy -- Recommendations.

Electronic reproduction. Palo Alto, Calif. : ebrary, 2007. Available via World Wide Web. Access may be limited to ebrary affiliated libraries.