Generally, three strikes laws have been empirically substantiated as having negligible impacts on overall recidivism rates amongst the general population, a trend substantiated by the weak correlation found between demonstrative prison sentences and general or individuals deterrence.Furthermore, the cost of imprisoning large numbers of individuals for extended periods of time have often crippled state's economies, and led to America possessing the highest rate of imprisonment in the Western world.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-strikes_law