[Seattle-editorial] FP: Three Strikes Law

[Joseph Eisenschmidt]

Good figures. Great point to the issue.

Approve
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From: seattle-editorial-bounces at lists.indymedia.org
[mailto:seattle-editorial-bounces at lists.indymedia.org]On Behalf Of
jonathan lawson
Sent: Monday, December 01, 2003 6:55 PM
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Subject: [Seattle-editorial] FP: Three Strikes Law


subtitle: REEXAMINING WASHINGTON'S THREE STRIKES LAW
title: Until the End of Their Days

Ten years after Washington voters passed the "three strikes, you’re out"
initiative, nearly 220 prisoners sit behind bars for life. Proponents say
that we’ve put away the "worst of the worst." But 40 percent of those who
have "struck out" have done so because of robbery convictions, compared
with 12 percent who are serving life for murder, and 20 percent for a sex
crime under the three-strikes statute. In Washington, nearly 36 percent of
all three strikers are African American, though they represent merely 3.2
percent of the state population. Opponents of three strikes say the net
cast by this law has extended far too wide. According to critics,
committing people to prison for life – and especially for non-violent
crimes or crimes committed under the influence of drugs and alcohol –
ignores the real potential for rehabilitation.

<p><a href="http://www.colorsnw.com/cover_story.shtml"><i>Colors
Northwest</i>'s Silja Talvi has the whole story.</a>

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