Three Strikes and Habitual Offender Laws in Utah

Utah's habitual violent offender law applies to a person convicted of a violent felony (such as homicide, aggravated assault, kidnapping, rape, robbery, arson or abuse of a vulnerable adult) who on at least two previous occasions was convicted of a violent felony and committed to prison. If the jury or judge finds this beyond a reasonable doubt, a second or third degree felony is punished as a first degree felony (at least five years and up to life), and for a first degree felony the person is not eligible for probation and the Board of Pardons and Parole must treat the status as an aggravating factor. The prosecutor must give notice in the charging document.