California’s “three strikes” law comes from a horrific crime committed in 1993 by a violent felon named Richard Allen Davis kidnapped and murdered a young girl called Polly Klaas. Californias and many Americans nationwide were understandably committed to preventing such a terrible crime from occurring again, so California passed Proposition 184, called the “three strikes” law with an overwhelming 72% of the vote. Under this Proposition, anyone who had committed two felonies would be almost automatically receive a life sentence upon being convicted of a third felony. This well-meaning tough on crime movement continued to gain traction throughout the country in the 90s and early 2000s under both Bill Clinton and George W. Bush’s presidencies. It has lead to increased bloating of jails throughout the US, with no decrease in crime in sight.
Thankfully there have been some adjustments made to the “three strikes” law in California and other softening tough-on-crime policies in other states over the years, but none as bold as Proposition 47, which was just passed by California voters on November 4, 2014. This proposition re-categorizes certain nonviolent crimes such as drug possession, forgery, and petty theft (when the affected amount is less than $950) from felonies to misdemeanors.
One salient example of a case where the “three strikes” law was applied in the past that will likely be eligible for review for a reduced sentence is that of Curtis Wilkerson. Just hours after the “three strikes” law was put into effect in 1994, on a whim, he stole some plain-jane white socks and was hit with a felony charge. Many years previously, at the tender age of 16, he had served as a lookout for a series of robberies and charged with two felonies. The socks ended up costing him everything when he was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison—his third strike. Clearly, he wasn’t the kind of hardened criminal the “three strikes” law intended to keep off the streets. http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/cruel-and-unusual-punishment-the-shame-of-three-strikes-laws-20130327 With the passage of Proposition 47, Wilkerson and many thousands like him will have the opportunity to appeal their cases and receive more fair sentences.
Does this sound like you or someone you know? Contact Dan Chambers at the Chambers Law Firm to meticulously review your case. He has over 20+ years of experience with the law as a prosecutor and attorney, and he will treat your case with the seriousness it deserves. Your freedom, finances, and family stability are often at stake, so he will do everything in his power to acquire the lightest possible sentence for you so you can move on to a healthy, happy, productive life.
