One of the most dismaying developments is the spread of so-called ``three-strikes-and-you're out'' laws. California's version, passed by citizen referendum in 1993 and ratcheted into place by state legislators in 1994, provides for the life imprisonment of any criminal with two previous serious convictions who is found guilty of any third felony.
Uno de los más desalentadores sucesos es la generalización de leyes que han dado por llamarse ``tres strikes y estás fuera''.