If you fit into the category of a "habitual offender", than you should be punished more severly than others. That's why I think that the Three Strikes law(s) should be enstated throughout the entire US.
Yes, there will be situations where something as small as shoplifting a pair of gas station sunglasses could land somebody in jail for an extended period of time, but I think that the overall "good" that comes out of it would outweigh any ***** "injustices".
The way I look at it is like this...
If there is a bully in your school who repeatedly beats up innocent students and the only punishment he ever receives is a day in detention, that bully will continue to beat up students, as he would not be afraid of the consequence. Now, if somebody kicks the **** out of that bully the next time he tries to beat somebody up, that bully will, more than likely, become reeeeeally hesitant the next time he even thinks about beating somebody up.
I believe that laying down harsh punishments for ***** crimes could work the same way and make people think twice about repeating their mistakes.