A person that is convicted of a crime is given a punishment or a sentence. A criminal's sentence depends on a number of factors. Some of the considerations include the type of crime that they are being convicted of and whether or not they are a repeat offender. Felonies generally carry harsher sentences than misdemeanors, and violent crimes tend to garner longer sentencing arrangements than other types of crimes. Some times a person can be placed on probation or have a monitoring advice placed on them for home arrest. There are different types of probation. Non-reporting probation means that a person does not have to meet with his or her probation officer. Other people on probation must report regularly to their probation officer and may have to undergo frequent drug or alcohol testing, especially if their offense was related to drugs or alcohol. Some states have enacted a "Three Strikes Law" which means that if a perpetrator is convicted of three certain types of crimes then he is automatically sentenced to a mandatory period of prison time or given life in prison.