Needed reform of three-strikes law faces tough fight.CALIFORNIA is the only one of the three-strikes states where a felony felony (fĕl`ənē), any grave crime, in contrast to a misdemeanor, that is so declared in statute or was so considered in common law. for any offense can trigger a life sentence upon conviction. Three-strikes reform proponents are confident that they'll finally get the state's law changed in November. Proposition 66 will modify the three strikes law to apply only to serious and violent third offenses. A Field Poll in August showed nearly 70 percent in support of the measure. There's good reason to shave shave (shav) 1. to cut at or parallel to the surface of the skin. 2. to remove the beard or other body hair by such a process. 3. to cut thin slices from or to cut into thin slices. the Draconian dra·co·ni·an adj. Exceedingly harsh; very severe: a draconian legal code; draconian budget cuts. [After Draco. edge off the three-strikes law. Locking up petty thieves and drug users (the overwhelming majority of them black and Latino males) for 25 years to life without the possibility of parole is a blatant violation of the Eighth Amendment prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment Such punishment as would amount to torture or barbarity, any cruel and degrading punishment not known to the Common Law, or any fine, penalty, confinement, or treatment that is so disproportionate to the offense as to shock the moral sense of the community. . Despite the much overdue need for three-strikes reform, making it happen will not be a cakewalk. The three strikes law has been on the books for a decade, and every attempt to reform it has languished in the state Legislature A state legislature may refer to a legislative branch or body of a political subdivision in a federal system. The following legislatures exist in the following political subdivisions: No matter the conditions that spur repeat offenders to commit crimes, nobody seems willing to cut them any slack. State legislators know it's the political kiss of death kiss of death gangsters’ farewell ritual before murdering victim. [Am. Cult.: Misc.] See : Farewell to go to bat for prisoner reform measures. Nearly all the state's district attorneys and top law enforcement officials oppose Proposition 66. As opponents roll out their campaign against the initiative over the next month, the polling numbers may change. But voters and squeamish squea·mish adj. 1. a. Easily nauseated or sickened. b. Nauseated. 2. Easily shocked or disgusted. 3. Excessively fastidious or scrupulous. legislators need to act sooner or later on prison reform. With more prisoners being packed into California's overcrowded o·ver·crowd v. o·ver·crowd·ed, o·ver·crowd·ing, o·ver·crowds v.tr. To cause to be excessively crowded: a system of consolidation that only overcrowded the classrooms. jail cells, the nearly $6 billion the state spends on corrections will soar even higher. The three-strikes law has served a useful purpose in helping keep many violent criminals off the streets. But there are thousands of others who don't fit that category who are currently warehoused in prison. That's a heavy price to pay to keep a law on the books that can and should be reformed. Earl Ofari Hutchinson, an author and political analyst, is publisher of The Hutchinson Report, an online political newsletter (thehutchinsonreport.com). |
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