Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

Yes. But the counter-argument is, here is someone who can't control their behavior.

Any felony can be a third strike. It doesn't have to be violent. And although a person's first petty theft conviction is a misdemeanor, subsequent petty thefts are felonies. That means a petty theft can be a third strike.

When that happens it seems like cruel and unusual punishment to many people, including me. But such claims have not done well in court.

Yes it is harsh, and yes it is the law, and yes it is designed to be a harsh deterrent that makes people stop committing crimes. If the deterrent doesn't work, then prison will at least keep them from further crimes while they are IN.