Two separate efforts to amend California’s controversial Three Strikes Law are under way—in the Legislature and by voter initiative.
AB327 passed the state Assembly in January on a 41-33 vote. It now heads to the Senate. If approved there and signed by the governor, it would be placed on the November 2014 ballot.
There are different provisions in the ballot initiative drafted by the Stanford Three Strikes Project.
It would also allow certain hard-core criminals with prior offenses for murder, rape, and child molestation to be put away for life, even if their current offense is a minor crime.
Assemblyman Mike Davis said he was aware of the Stanford Initiative when he drafted AB327. He added he is willing to support the initiative.
Under the existing Three Strike law, life sentences have been given for such minor crimes as stealing a piece of pizza, attempting to break into a soup kitchen to get something to eat or forging a Check for $146. AB 327 would require the Third Strike to be a serious or violent felony to count as a third strike, except for offenders whose most recent offense involved certain sex offenses, a substantial quantity of drugs, or intention to cause great bodily harm.
A spokesman for the Stanford initiative said, “It’s too important to wait until 2014.” The initiative campaign is midway through collecting the 504,760 voter signatures required for the initiative to qualify for the November 2012 ballot.
The San Jose Mercury News reports that six percent of California prisoners are three strikers, but they represent $100 million in costs per year.