'Three strikes' life in prison law changed by Legislature

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Individuals will no longer receive life prison sentences under Washington's "three strikes" law, thanks to a bill passed by the Washington Legislature and sent to Gov. Jay Inslee for signature.

The final step was House passage by a largely party line 53-45 vote late on Tuesday, culminating a long drive to reform the law. Washington in 1993 became the first state to enact a law sending third-time offenders to the slammer for life.

The legislation earlier cleared the State Senate on a 29-20 vote.

"Black people receive life sentences under the three strikes law at a rate seven times higher than our portion of the population," argued State Rep. Eric Pettigrew, D-Seattle, in supporting the legislation.

African Americans are 4% of the state's population, but have accounted for 40% of those convicted under the three strikes law.

The law "destroys families and communities by disproportionately locking up black men for life," Pettigrew argued.

https://www.seattlepi.com/local/politics/article/Three-strikes-life-in-prison-law-changed-by-13776067.php?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailynewsletterspi&utm_term=spi

[heckles65]

1. Good for Washington State

"Three strikes you're out" may work fine for baseball but it has nothing to do with criminal jurisprudence. It just got a positive reaction from talk radio's fearful core audience.