How do we know that as criminals commit more crimes that they don't just get more violent as they go? It appears in the Polly Klaas murder that the before that he had not committed such a violent act -- with all (lets use 25 since his rap sheet covered 25 years) 25 or so of his crimes coming before the Strike 3 law. So since there was no Strike 26 law, what made him finally commit rape and murder for number 26? But if we are to believe the article, then at least it is comforting to know that as criminals commit strike 3, it is not their fault that strike 3 is worse than strikes 1 and 2 and that it is the fault of the law....so they can say..."the Strike 3 law made me do it".

Exactly:

Criminals move up the social success ladder of their own choosing just as people in any venture desire to do.

Good point! Would that researchers understand this too.

No doubt it takes millions more in research funding to figure out that common sense has points to make about human nature.