I agree with most here that this is not your fault, however, I think a more interesting question should be asked: regarding "3 strikes and you're out". The big difference between the carceral system in the US and in Europe hinges around the question "what is prison for? Punishment or re-integration in society?

In the US it is (mostly) about punishment, and life in prison is the ultimate punishment (after a death sentence of course).

In most European countries, we consider that we have rules as a society and that you should accept these and follow them. If you don't, you go to prison, with the goal of ultimately ( if possible) getting out having understood and been adjusted to henceforth adhere to those rules. Having perhaps learned new skills which can be useful to society when you return and having understood which rules society expects you to obey to. I'm saying it in a glorified way, but when we do this, a "3 strikes and out" rule does not make sense. Neither does a life prison sentence for a 16 year old 1st offender who killed someone in a car crash...