Sentencing: Three Strikes.

Existing law, contained in 2 initiative statutes, commonly known as the Three Strikes law, requires increased penalties for certain recidivist offenders in addition to any other enhancement or penalty provisions that may apply. Existing law requires that if a defendant has 2 or more prior violent or serious felony convictions, the term for the current felony conviction shall be an indeterminate term of imprisonment in the state prison for life with a minimum term to be served, as specified. This bill would provide that a defendant who has 2 or more prior violent or serious felony convictions shall receive the enhanced indeterminate life sentence only if the defendant's current conviction is for a serious or violent felony, as defined. The bill would provide that it would become effective only when submitted to, and approved by, the voters, and would require the Secretary of State to submit the measure to the voters at the November 4, 2014, statewide general election, unless an initiative measure amending these provisions is approved by the voters at the November 6, 2012, statewide general election, in which case the bill would provide that the Secretary of State shall not submit the measure to the voters at the November 4, 2014, statewide general election.