Nearly two-thirds of the 42,000 repeat offenders who have been sent to prison under California’s three strikes sentencing law were convicted of drug and property offenses and other nonviolent crimes.
(Source: California Department of Corrections)
Californians have been sentenced to life in prison for the following:
Stealing a spare tire
Possession of a stolen bicycle
Shoplifting a $70 drill from Sears
Possession of $40 worth of roommate’s jewelry
Attempted burglary of a vacant car at a car wash at 2:00 a.m.
Filling out a false DMV application
Taking a bike out of a garage
Stealing a portable vacuum from a patio
Shoplifting a $47 deadbolt lock
Stealing a sweater, case and shirt from Nordstrom
Possession of 3 stolen ceiling fans
Shoplifting a pack of t-shirts worth $33
Shoplifting of a baseball glove
Possession of .04 grams of cocaine
Conspiracy to sell $20 worth of cocaine
Stealing a set of tools and a car polisher from Sears
Possession of less than 2 grams of marijuana in a prison facility
Possession of $3.00 worth of controlled substance while in jail
Shoplifting a tube of hair grease and then fighting security
Shoplifting 21 packages of aspirin
Shoplifting a package of Double AA batteries worth $2.69
Helping someone else steal baby formula and Tylenol
That's only Califoria you list, but this is common about everywhere else in the USA. A friend of mine was sentenced to 10 years in jail for giving two joints to a (female, he thought he could get some pussy) undercover cop, it was his first, and one and only offence he ever 'committed'. That dude couldn't hurt a fly.
A friend of mine was sent to Prision for a short time because he was caught with a few bottles of beer while on the way to a party.
I can't remember the specifics (to be honest I don't know the way the American system works but it went something like this) He was out with friends going to a party, they stopped off to buy beer, he was the only one that was over 21 (just) his two friends were just under 21. Anyway, they were stopped by the police for an unrelated matter. The Police found the beers and he was arrested for supply of alcohol to "minors" and taken to the local sherrifs office, there was an issue here because he is a canadian citizen and so some complicated process was set in motion, so he was sent to a holding cell to await whatever process was due to him. They had problems (busy or something) and so he had to be kept somewhere, having no space anywhere he ended up being transfered to the local jail.
He was actually, given a phone call - that he made to his dad at this point thinking he was in Huge trouble - stripped, searched, issued with an orange suit and actually "admitted" into the general prision population and locked in a cell overnight!!
Nearly two-thirds of the 42,000 repeat offenders who have been sent to prison under California’s three strikes sentencing law were convicted of drug and property offenses and other nonviolent crimes.
(Source: California Department of Corrections)
Californians have been sentenced to life in prison for the following:
Stealing a spare tire
Possession of a stolen bicycle
...
But to be fair, this should read...
--> Committed an offence, was tried, convicted and told that this behaviour was unacceptable and that a change in attitude was needed.
--> Committed a further offence, once again tried and convicted and further warned that additional criminal behaviour would result in severe punishment.
---> Committed the particular offense listed thereby pretty much asking that the book gets thrown at you...
As far as I know, California is the only state with a "3 Strikes" statute, although I may be incorrect (as I pay no attention whatsoever to the other states. ). In most states, shoplifting $14 worth of stuff is a misdemeanor, including California ... unless, as jg_v7n notes, it's got additional issues that upgrade it to a felony and it's the 3rd felony offense (3 misdemeanors means nothing ... they have to be felonies). (Got to get those 'habitual offenders' off the street and into prison where my tax dollars can provide a home and 3 square meals per day for them, don't you know.)
How about the other side of the coin? As I write this, an attorney behind me at the criminal defense law firm I do computer stuff for is telling an associate about a defendant who was convicted of murder ... and received 2 years in prison. Go figure that one out ...
The problem with California's 3 strikes law is they don't take into account the type of felony or the time between each. Say you get caught with felony weight marijuana as a young man (18 y/o for arguments sake), 15 years later you get into a bar fight and catch a felony assault charge. After that you're done, one more little thing, the DA is going to try and make it a felony and they will lock you up and throw away the key.
New York has similar laws after 3 of the same grade (A,B,C,D, or E) felonies the judge can sentence you to life as a predicate felon. Other than that, you can have 7 felonies, all different grades and all the judge can do is sentence you to the max, if so inclined, for the grade of felony you're currently charged with. The flaw here is lets say you get caught with felony weight marijuana 3 times, you're going in the shark tank for life.
In my opinion, prison isn't the answer it does nothing but make people bitter and possibly more violent than they already are, in order to survive. Prison should only be mandatory for the worst of crimes; murder, rape, and the like. Other than that monetary restitution and community service would teach most of the low grade felons (druggies and the like) their lesson.
It's that dumb three-strikes thing. Too many minor offenses are included as strikes.
Of course the dumbasses shouldn't be committing crimes in the first place. But then did they really commit the first two crimes? I was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon, even though it was just a paring knife, and I was carrying it along with Tupperware, some onions, and other cooking essentials. So they should have known it was not a weapon, but I pleaded guilty anyway because they came to me with a deal - plead guilty and get out of jail immediately, or fight it and stay in jail.
They get a lot of crap convictions that way, so who knows if the first two crimes really were crimes?
My god, that system is complete bullshit. A life sentence for those crimes ? We get a minimal fine for those here in the Netherlands.
I remember a story my mom told me. Her boss was driving around without hes buckle on in hes car, and he had hes children just loose (no buckle/playing). He got pulled over by the police. Usually this would be a fine, or something. But the cop asked:
Sir, do you love your kids ?
And he let him drive on. I think this is the best approach ever.
Oh Please. HAs anyone ever thought as to why the 3 strikes and you're out law was passed in the first place? Too many people were commiting crimes over and over and over again and receiving little or no prison time.
