Once upon a time, when California wasn’t run by idiots, they passed a “three strikes” law for very good reasons: a small percentage of the people commit the vast majority of crimes. Put those people in prison, and the vast majority of people benefit. It’s not voodoo, it’s not racist, it’s not irrational - it’ was law based upon truth.
Once upon a time, that actually mattered.
“Three strikes” was actually working. The crime rate was actually going down. Guys who already had two convictions knew they dare not commit another. And guys who, knowing they faced life in jail for another crime, but simply couldn’t help themselves, went away to never return.
But almost immediately the criminal justice establishment went to work undermining the law and it lost its effectiveness. But while it was in effect it did work.