Yes on Prop 36!

The new change to the Three strikes law it is estimated to save around $70-$90 million dollars a year if Proposition 36 is passed. This will affect people who puts in their tax money into jail inmates according to the Legislative Analyst office, of the 9 billion annual prison budget. The three strikes law will double a third time offenders jail time if a person is convicted of any felonies or misdemeanor. Depending on the criminals nature of the crime if a non-violent offender is convicted may be their sentence will be reduce because it is a minor crime, although the person will be receiving some jail sentence time about double the amount of the original three strikes law that was enforced. For example instead of a two to four year in jail it will go up to four to eight years in prison instead of the original amount. This is a reasonable time of amount being serve in jail. 

According to Proposition 36, Official Voters Guide, a NO vote on this measure means: Offenders with two prior serious or violent felony convictions who commit any new felony could continue to receive life sentences. In addition, offenders with two prior serious or violent felony convictions who are currently serving life sentences for non-serious  non-violent felonies would continue to serve the remainder of their life sentences.

"The Reason why to oppose it because Proposition 36 will release dangerous criminals from prison who were sentenced to life terms because of their long criminal history. The initiative is so flawed some of these felons will be released without any supervision! Join California’s Sheriffs, Police, Prosecutors, and crime victims groups in voting No on Proposition 36" (Proposition 36 Voters Guide) 

http://voterguide.sos.ca.gov/propositions/36/ 

California enacted the 3 Strikes Law in the 1990's to improve our criminal justice system. This has worked well so far up to a point, we are imprisoning certain 3'rd Strike offenders longer than we should. These people are taking up needed room in our prisons and costing us tens of millions of dollars every year. Prop 36 will do the following:

Eliminate unintended and ineffective life sentences imposed for non-violent and non-serious crimes.

Restore the original intent of the 3 Strikes Law to keep dangerous and violent criminals off the streets.

Save $100 million per year to fund schools, prevent crime, and decrease the need for tax increases.

These are some of the many reasons on why California should pass Proposition 36!

When Mike Reynolds’s daughter was murdered, his wedding photography career soon altered to authoring a new proposition.

The Death

Kimber Reynolds was a beautiful blonde 18 year old girl. She worked at Baskin Robins and attended the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles. In 1992 she was visiting her home in Fresno to be a bridesmaid in a friend’s wedding. One night while visiting, she went out to a popular restaurant with a friend. Unfortunately she didn't know that was the most deathly choice she’ll ever make. While getting into her car in front of the restaurant, she was grabbed by a man while another man took her clothes. The man took out a gun and shot her in the ear. He died in the next 24 hours.

The Big Idea

The worst phone call Mr. Reynolds’s could ever imagine was received after her daughter’s death. Soon he found out that her murder was her killer’s third serious felony. He was not going to let his only daughter’s murder get away this time! He decided to come up with a proposition so a criminal can only commit three felonies until he’s in life for prison. The famous Three Strikes Law stated that a person’s second offense would have double the punishment and the third offense would send them to life in prison. In 1994 (the same year as Kimber’s death) the law was passed.

Proposition 36

Even though the Three Strikes Law has been pretty successful, some problems have been occurring. The law was passed so quickly that some things were looked passed. Too many criminals have been sentenced to life for drug or alcohol related issues. The jails have become filled with minor criminals and a lot of money is being wasted on them. So now the three strikes law is being revised so that the third offense needs to be serious or violent.

Mike Reynolds had great intentions for the Three Strikes Law but it just happened too quickly. Now that things have been sorted, it’s time to change. And even with the changes, Mr. Reynolds still gets the justice he deserves.

Mike Reynolds the co-author of the "Three Strikes Law" does not want to change the original proposition because in the past he has face some difficulties with a third offender, his daughter was killed by an repeated offender. This gives him a reason why not to change it because he wants criminals especially repeated offenders to go to jail and receive a life-time sentence amount serve in jail (ABC local). If the proposition is not changed then that means that all offenders will not be able to apply for an application process in reducing or re-sentence their jail sentence time. According to Mike Reynolds repeated offenders will most likely get out of jail. And head straight back into jail after just a couple of months due to the fact of repeating the same felony over and over again. Although if this prop is not passed then all offenders will stay off the streets and have lower rates of criminal activities. 

By voting yes on Proposition 36 it means that only dangerous offenders will stay in jail for a much longer period of time. The other criminals with a much unserious crime will most likely have their sentence reduced. If there are less criminals, that is those that will not be a threat to the public will reduce their jail time. It is also estimated to save around $70-$90 million dollars a year if the more dangerous offenders are locked up.

Ia L. 

The opposition claims that if Prop 36 is passed, half of California’s third strike offenders will be released to commit more crimes. This is false, people who have been convicted of non-violent and non-serious crimes will receive a re-sentencing and if the judge feels that these people have done their time they can go. Why would we want to spend nearly $50,000 a year on every inmate who is in prison for life for a non-serious crime?

The opposition claims that the state will just be releasing more “trigger happy convicts” when that is not true! Third strikers will receive a trial just like every other person who commits a crime. Their background is looked at and if their previous strikes are not serious and the third one isn’t, they will receive a sentence, but it won’t be 25 years to life. Someone who has not committed a serious crime doesn't need to sit in jail for 25 years and waste the taxpayers' money.

The opposition says that:

• California is too soft on criminals

• By fixing our crime laws, we will encourage more crime

• It is worth the cost to keep non-serious third strikers in prison for life

How is California too soft on criminals? California will still have one of the best justice systems even if Prop 36 is passed. If we pass Prop 36, we will be fixing the system, not encouraging more crime. To taxpayer’s, it is not worth keeping third strikers in prison longer than needed.

This is what the opposition says about Prop 36. The reality about Prop 36 is that it will save the state of California millions of dollars and will improve our justice system.

Proposition 36 says that offenders who are convicted of a third degree felony of any sort will have to go to jail, but they can also complete an application to reduce their life time sentences. Others that are against prop 36 say that criminals who have a third strike or even one to two strikes should go to prison for what they did. Even if offenders are out of prison, chances are they are going back within three years, due to some criminal activities, according to the California Department of Corrections Rehabilitation for Peace officers Research Association of California opposes this law, because they have been in charge of keeping peace for the society and the public. Also officers or police have been through catching criminals and they know more due to the fact that they have over and over again caught most of the same criminals to the same felony or misdemeanor. Offenders that are out of jail will not be supervised by the law and that is unsafe to the public. People in society will not feel like they are safe out in the streets due to the fact that they know somewhere out there is an offender on the streets. And even if they go back in jail offenders can still use proposition 36 again to get out or reduce their jail sentence crime. 

Prop 36 is on the ballot for a revision to impose life sentence only when the new felony conviction is either “serious” or “non-serious”.

People in argument in favor to pass the 2012 Prop 36; new and revised; say that:

If passed, it will assure that violent repeat offenders are punished and not to be released early.

Also will save California over $100 million dollars a year. That money saved could be spent for new jobs, education funds, fight and reduce crimes on streets, etc.

The prison will have more rooms to place more dangerous criminals behind bars instead of the petty theft.

Law enforcement supports Prop 36. Will help ensure that prisoners can be kept behind bars for life. Will keep offenders off the streets. Safe for the people, and their children.

People who votes against it think that the new and revised Proposition 36 reduce prison sentence and might be released from prison. Criminals who are dangerous or not are still criminals on the streets. All criminals may be released without any community supervision. California’s supporters say that all criminals will commit more crimes after they are released and that will affect innocent taxpayers end up paying more tax to keep them behind bars…again. 

Everyone knows the famous saying, “Three strikes and you’re out!” Except do they know that that is not just used in baseball but in our law system also? The three strikes law literally gives you three strikes until you’re off to prison for the rest of your life. Now proposition 36 had been added to the 2012 ballot to finally give us room for mistakes.

Time for Change

                According to the article “What is the Current Three Strikes Law?” on the page titled FAQs on the website yeson36.org; the three strikes law imposes a life sentence for any felony. After committing two violent or serious crimes the third felony (doesn't matter how small) will send him to jail for the rest of your life. But if he slipped up just once while trying to get rid of his addiction and got caught, does anyone really deserve to spend the rest of their life in jail? The new and improved three strikes law will have a double punishment for a minor third strike instead of life imprisonment. So a life sentencing would only go to the third strikers who committed a serious or violent crime.

Benefits

                Some may say that it’s fair that the third strikers deserve a life sentencing no matter what the crime committed was. However, now our jails are filled with harmful people who our stuck in prison for life for just a minor crime. It’s wasting our money and taking up room for dangerous criminals. With the revisions to the law, people will not only be saving money but also walking on safer streets.

                Even though the three strikes law is already in place, revisions need to be made. Voting yes on proposition 36 will give us the justice we need to be the mistake-making human beings we all are. 

Right now the Three Strikes Law is in effect in the state of California. It states that any criminal who has committed two serious/ violent felonies will be sentenced to life in prison for their third crime, even if the third crime isn't violent. A violent offense includes murder, robbery of a residence in which a deadly or dangerous weapon is used, rape and other sex offenses. Serious offenses include the same offenses defined as violent offenses, but also include other crimes such as burglary of a residence and assault with intent to commit a robbery or rape. After committing two serious or violent crimes, any third felony will send you to jail. That includes any reoccurring drug issue, reckless driving, DUI, stealing, and many more misdemeanors. The problem right now is that many innocent people are in prison for life for the slightest things. They are just taking up room and wasting our money. So now proportion 36 has been added to the ballots! This revision of the three strikes law will state that the third strike MUST be a serious or violent offense. Hopefully this change will keep more innocent people out of jail and give more room for dangerous criminals.

California's "three strikes and you're out" law is no game. It's one of the harshest sentencing schemes in the country and a law that can send people convicted of even nonviolent offenses to prison for life. Currently, any person who obtains a "third strike", automatically receives 25 years to life in prison. That person must serve 25 years to qualify for parole. We are currently spending upwards of $100 million a year on inmates that should not be there for 25 years to life. If we pass prop 36, it will modify the current 3 strikes law and make it so non-violent and non-serious third strikers will have a chance for less time in prison. This is a logical choice for California because it will save the state a projected $70-$100 million a year on over sentenced third strikers. Why should we over crowd prisons with minor drug offenders who have caused no harm to others when we need room for murderers. California citizens should take notice and vote for what's right for this state.

- Ryan S.

http://www.shouselaw.com/three-strikes.html#2

Prop 36:

One of California's drug division. ("Drug diversion" typically refers to the practice of allowing eligible defendants to have their criminal charges/conviction dismissed if they successfully complete a court-approved drug treatment program.)

The current 3 strikes law imposes on life sentencing on any felonys on any different crimes.

Prohibits incarceration as a condition of probation or parole...unless you violate your probation or parole.

Repeated criminals will get life in prison for serious or violent third strike crimes, and double the ordinary sentence if the third strike is not serious or violent.

3 STRIKES & YOU'RE OUT!

Information Provided by:

http://www.shouselaw.com/proposition-36.html

http://www.yeson36.org/faq.html

In 1994 California enacted a "three strike" law by voters, here are the three strikes that are reinforce with proposition 36. First strike is any type of felony, second strike can lead up to 16 years in prison if convicted of any felony or serious crime. And third strike is any serious crime on record regardless of the type of crime minor or not the criminal can be sentence to 25 years to life in prison, with possibility of parole. California's revised three strikes law states that if a person has two or more strikes, such as a third strike that person will go straight to jail, double the jail sentence, also depending on the nature of the crime (Kcet). 

Some current offenders serving sentence in jail are able to apply for the revise three strikes law. The last decision will depend upon the judge, if a judge sees that the criminal will be no threat to the public then he or she might reduce or re-sentence that criminal, but there is no guarantee that the offender will have their sentence reduce or be re-sentence. This new law will most likely affect current offender serving time in jail that had non-serious or non-violent crimes will have the opportunity to apply for this new Proposition 36. Voting yes means that you are amending to the revise three strikes law and reduce sentence for some current third time offender. And a no vote means that you do not want any current third time offender to have their sentence reduce or be re-sentence, and leave the three strikes law as it is. 

Information Source:

http://www.kcet.org/news/ballotbrief/elections2012/propositions/prop-36-cheat-sheet-change-californias-three-strikes-law.html

If we pass Prop 36, as a state we will save $70-$100 million per year!

- Ryan S.

- Caitlin R.