One of the ways to help reduce prison overcrowding would be to modify the Three Strikes Law.
A Field Poll in June found 74 percent of voters would support giving judges more discretion in sentencing persons convicted of a third felony.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported in July the public’s willingness to exclude non-violent and non-serious offenses, and property crimes as a third strike. There’s also an initiative being planned for the November 2012 ballot by Stanford Law School-Three Strikes Project.
As the debate continues for changing the law, those who will be beneficiaries of the proposed changes include a new group formed to aid inmates working for reduced imprisonment. It is called the San Quentin Hope for Strikers Activity Group.
The group’s executive board members are Chairman Eddie Griffin, Vice Chairman Forrest Lee Jones and Sajad Shakoor, operations manager. They aim to attack recidivism, the issue of repeat offender conduct.
“Our mission and purpose is to not only provide coping methods similar to other therapeutic community groups, but also equip our members by way of our extensive curriculums with the requisite tools necessary for a meaningful rehabilitation and transition to society,” the group’s mission statement says.
The group “was created for the disenfranchised Three Strikers, but it excludes no one from participation because it is designed to provide support, education, and reform of the criminal mindset,” the group reports.
“We are unique in our approach; no group is similarly situated to tackle the problem that’s facing us and we intend to be a positive influence on the general population, serving as a force multiplier in our performance of our functions. We also endeavor to bring about a more harmonious inmate/staff relationship and work towards establishing an environment conducive to spiritual and psychological growth.”