In a reversal, Los Angeles DA favors easing 3-strikes law

[question everything]

In a reversal, Los Angeles DA favors easing 3-strikes law

By Bill Ainsworth
STAFF WRITER

February 8, 2006

SACRAMENTO – In 2004, Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley was part of a powerful coalition that helped defeat Proposition 66, a measure that would have relaxed the state's three-strikes sentencing law.

Now Cooley's back in the middle of the fight. But this time, the Republican prosecutor has broken with his colleagues by leading an effort to liberalize California's three-strikes law, the nation's toughest. Cooley has joined Brian Dunn, an attorney from the late Johnnie Cochran's law firm, to promote a measure for the November ballot.

(snip)

Since a third strike doesn't have to be for a violent or serious crime, some criminals have received a sentence of 25 years to life for committing petty theft.

(snip)

Find this article at:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060208/news_1n8strikes.html

[serryjw]

1. The worst law known to man

to go to prison for life for stealing a video, or was it a pizza??

[lapfog_1]

5. One homeless man here (Palo Alto)

25 to life for stealing a loaf of bread.

3rd strike... parole violation... not the misdemeanor

[LiberalGuy000]

2. Oh, gee

Nice of him to realize how bad that legislation is, after how many people have been put away for life after committing petty crimes like shoplifting...

[az chela]

3. This is the most assinine law

WHy would they lock up someone for life that commits little crimes and give a murderer 10 years???This is beyong belief and damn well needs to be changes ASAP

[Vidar]

4. A stupid law straight out of "Les Miserables"

[wookie294]

6. The state has no money to house drug dealers

Release the drug dealers and imprison the violent criminal offenders. Legalize pot, cocaine and ecstasy and watch the prison population plummet. A win-win situation!

[tanyev]

7. They pass laws like this so they can brag about being tough on crime.

Then they quietly reverse the laws, not out of any concern for injustice, but because Republican budget policies do not leave them enough money to keep all these people in jail. And then, when those criminals get out, they can use it as a campaign issue again. Quite a merry-go-round.