Kathy
11-13-2004, 01:40 AM
District attorney speaks out on three strikes law
Nov 13 2004 12:00AM By J.D. HILLARD OF THE REGISTER-PAJARONIAN
Bob Lee committed to reform after failure of Proposition 66
After vocally opposing Proposition 66, Santa Cruz County's district attorney said he will commit the remainder of his term to reforming California's "three strikes" law.
In the days before the election, District Attorney Bob Lee came out against Proposition 66. The failed voter initiative would have changed the three strikes law so that the mandatory 25-years-to-life sentence could only apply after three violent crimes.
Supporters of Proposition 66 said that lengthy three strikes sentences are handed down for crimes like drug possession and forgery, costing huge amounts of money and unfairly punishing nonviolent criminals.
The changes proposed in Proposition 66, however, were too broad, Lee said. He produced a laundry list of complaints about the initiative.
"It rewarded the serial criminal," Lee said.
Under Proposition 66, a judge could not give the 25-years-to-life sentence to a rapist charged with multiple rapes, he said. It would also have reversed the efforts of district attorneys to ensure that convicts serve a majority of their sentences, he added.
Now that Proposition 66 has failed, however, Lee said he would commit the remaining two years of his term to fixing "perceived problems" with three strikes.
"I didn't want people to think that just because Prop. 66 didn't pass there wasn't a problem," he said.
Lee said he thinks a "ground swell" of other district attorneys also want reform. District attorneys from throughout the state are scheduled to meet in Sacramento next week to discuss legislation to change three strikes.
"No one wants to put somebody away for 25 to life for stealing a piece of pizza," Lee said.
While Lee declined to propose specific reforms until after the meeting, he criticized the law's potential for imposing lengthy prison terms in minor crimes.
"My problem with the three strikes law is you hear about people with possession of marijuana or stealing a pack of gum going to prison for 25 to life," he said.
Proposition 66 supporters announced after the initiative failed that they would work with district attorneys to change three strikes.
However, Watsonville Police Chief Terry Medina noted courts had already changed the three strikes law so that judges can reduce sentences they find overly severe.
"I don't necessarily think we have to modify three strikes at all," he said. "I think that as long as we are constantly as an entire judicial system looking at all aspects of it, then we can prevent abuse."
Medina said the law has succeeded in making California safer.
"The vast, vast majority of people in prison under three strikes are there because they're career criminals," he said.
Nov 13 2004 12:00AM By J.D. HILLARD OF THE REGISTER-PAJARONIAN
Bob Lee committed to reform after failure of Proposition 66
After vocally opposing Proposition 66, Santa Cruz County's district attorney said he will commit the remainder of his term to reforming California's "three strikes" law.
In the days before the election, District Attorney Bob Lee came out against Proposition 66. The failed voter initiative would have changed the three strikes law so that the mandatory 25-years-to-life sentence could only apply after three violent crimes.
Supporters of Proposition 66 said that lengthy three strikes sentences are handed down for crimes like drug possession and forgery, costing huge amounts of money and unfairly punishing nonviolent criminals.
The changes proposed in Proposition 66, however, were too broad, Lee said. He produced a laundry list of complaints about the initiative.
"It rewarded the serial criminal," Lee said.
Under Proposition 66, a judge could not give the 25-years-to-life sentence to a rapist charged with multiple rapes, he said. It would also have reversed the efforts of district attorneys to ensure that convicts serve a majority of their sentences, he added.
Now that Proposition 66 has failed, however, Lee said he would commit the remaining two years of his term to fixing "perceived problems" with three strikes.
"I didn't want people to think that just because Prop. 66 didn't pass there wasn't a problem," he said.
Lee said he thinks a "ground swell" of other district attorneys also want reform. District attorneys from throughout the state are scheduled to meet in Sacramento next week to discuss legislation to change three strikes.
"No one wants to put somebody away for 25 to life for stealing a piece of pizza," Lee said.
While Lee declined to propose specific reforms until after the meeting, he criticized the law's potential for imposing lengthy prison terms in minor crimes.
"My problem with the three strikes law is you hear about people with possession of marijuana or stealing a pack of gum going to prison for 25 to life," he said.
Proposition 66 supporters announced after the initiative failed that they would work with district attorneys to change three strikes.
However, Watsonville Police Chief Terry Medina noted courts had already changed the three strikes law so that judges can reduce sentences they find overly severe.
"I don't necessarily think we have to modify three strikes at all," he said. "I think that as long as we are constantly as an entire judicial system looking at all aspects of it, then we can prevent abuse."
Medina said the law has succeeded in making California safer.
"The vast, vast majority of people in prison under three strikes are there because they're career criminals," he said.