Washblog

3-STRIKES ACTION

 


CONTENTS
THE CAMPAIGN
STORIES BY THREE-STRIKERS
OUTREACH MATERIALS

 

THE CAMPAIGN

Justice Works! 3-Strikes campaign raises public awareness and political energy for reform or repeal of Washington's 3-Strikes law and in support of programs and investments demonstrated to make communities safer for lower fiscal and social cost. (1)

Washington was the first state in the nation to pass a 3-Strikes law.  Voters approved I-593 in 1993 on promises that it would forever protect society from its "most violent" members.

The law has failed. Research shows that it is associated with marginal reductions in property crimes, negative impacts on violent crime, and high social and fiscal costs. (2)

The 3-Strikes promise was empty from the start. Most 3-Strikes convictions are for less serious crimes. Of approximately 280 people now serving life sentences under the law, approximately 200, or about two thirds, have sentences relying on 1 or more convictions for crimes in the very lowest quartile of Washington's 16-level scale of seriousness at RCW 9.94A.515.

In 2001, Washington's Sentencing Guidelines Commission (SGC) recommended removing Robbery 2 and some forms of Assault 2 from the 3-Strikes list. This report can be read on the SGC's older publications page. For years, Washington legislators have introduced bills to do this. All bills have so far failed.

See more on the campaign at JUSTICE WORKS!.

 

STORIES

These stories have been shared by 3-Strikers in collaboration with Justice Works! 3-Strikes reform campaign. They show by example why the law is unjust and ineffective. The life paths described here all include one or more factors of poverty, addiction, childhood abuse, or mental illness. Programs addressing these factors have been shown to reduce crime at much less cost than incarceration alone. (2) Each person here was represented by a public defender. Washington public defense has been shown to be less than adequate. (3, 4) Many 3-Strikes defendants receive inadequate defense.

  1. A 3-Strikes Story: Abusive Foster Care, Deadly Streets, Broken Public Defense: We Can do Better, by Noemie Maxwell, 9/16/08
    WASHBLOG
  2. Cherease Cross: Kind, Beautiful, and Caring, She Deserved a Better Chance, by Shirley White, 8/26/08
    WASHBLOG
    DAILYKOS (this diary was "rescued" by the site's editors and linked to from the front page)
  3. Abuse of Discretion: Life Without Parole for Door Mat Burning, by Steven Darby McDonald, 6/30/06.
    WASHBLOG
    DAILYKOS
    HORSES ASS (Your Tax Dollars at Work)
  4. Freedom Culminating: Life Sentences Require Evidence Beyond a Reasonable Doubt, by Theodore Rhone with input from Frank Banks, Spencer Carter, and Anthony Jones, 6/10/08.
    WASHBLOG
  5. Life Sentence at 21 for No-Weapon No-Injury Crimes, by David Conyers, 5/25/08.
    WASHBLOG
    DAILYKOS (This story was voted by readers onto the recommended list)
  6. National Significance of Washington's 3-Strikes Law, by Noemie Maxwell, 4/6/08.
    WASHBLOG
  7. Three-Strikes Guest Post: I am not a Disposable Human Being, Ronald Peters, 3/27/08.
    WASHBLOG
    DAILYKOS
  8. Imprisoned for life in WA for an attempted wallet grab, by Al-Kareem Shadeed, 1/15/08.
    WASHBLOG
    DAILYKOS
  9. To Those Who Have Shown Notice to Cruel and Unconstitutional Laws in Washington State, by Joseph Scott Wharton, 1/1/08
    WASHBLOG
  10. Guest post from WA State Reformatory: These crimes do not merit life imprisonment, by Stevan Dozier, 12/30/07
    WASHBLOG
    DAILYKOS
  11. INTRODUCE THIS! Submitting Resolutions at WA's Presidential Caucuses (3-Strikes Reform)
    Noemie Maxwell, 12/30/07.
    WASHBLOG
  12. Life in prison without parole for low-violence crimes: can Washington find redemption?
    Noemie Maxwell, 12/11/07.
    WASHBLOG
  13. An effort to get politicians focused on needed sentencing reforms
    Douglas A. Berman, 1/13/08
    This series was noted on: SENTENCING LAW AND POLICY
  14. Washington State Democratic Party 3-Strikes Resolution, 2008
    3-STRIKES RESOLUTION #31
    ALL RESOLUTIONS

 

 

 

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