Three Strikes You're Out?: Families to be Reunited After the Passing of Prop 36

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Families to be Reunited After the Passing of Prop 36

By Joseph LeGarreta

Abstract

With the passing of proposition 36 and the repeal of the Three Strikes Law in California, relatives of incarcerated family members are rejoicing after years of fighting for their loved ones. 66-year-old Teresa Valdez is one such person. Ever since her son had fallen victim to the Three Strikes Law, forced to serve a 53 year to life sentence on possession of marijuana, she has been a staunch activist in repealing the law. At a protest rally in 2009 Valdez despairingly told a reporter, "I will not be here to see my son released." Little did she know, only a few years later the law which put her son behind bars would be repealed, and she would have a chance at seeing him again. Barbara Ellis whose brother was sentenced to 25 years to life an another small charge commented, "Oh my God, I'm just so elated and grateful...It's not just my brother who has been incarcerated. I've been incarcerated, waiting for him." Now it is only a matter of time before these concerned family members are reunited with their loved ones.

Analysis

Since the Three Strikes Law was passed in 1994, masses of law breakers have received unreasonable sentences on small charges. Valdez's son was given 53 years to life on a simple drug possession charge for a drug that is now legal for recreational use in two states. Ellis's brother was sentenced to 25 years to life on a charge that normally would have called for 1 to 3 years at most. Ellis who is the founder and president of the FILO (Families of Incarcerated Loved Ones) organization says, "We've seen fathers taken from their children for life for stealing pizza, mothers locked up for 25 to life for possession of marijuana. Many family members have died or are too sick to celebrate a new life for their family." For individuals in such situations, the Three Strikes Law is simply inhumane. It is no secret that California is running out of space in it's prisons, and the cost of retaining inmates is going up. There is no reason to keep small-time offenders locked up when they aren't truly hurting anyone and could better benefit society by doing such things as community service.

I believe this photograph says a lot about the hardships of the families of incarcerated inmates and what they have to go through. Phrases on this poster such as, "Incarcerated Families" and "Stolen Lives" really stand out to me. What would it be like to be in their shoes?

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Frequently Asked Questions

All FAQS are taken from the Official California Voters Guide

1. Will prop 36 costs California tax payer’s money?

It will "save California over $100 million every year"; specifically, "Taxpayers could save over $100 million per year—money that can be used to fund schools, fight crime and reduce the state’s deficit. The Three Strikes law will continue to punish dangerous career criminals who commit serious violent crimes—keeping them off the streets for 25 years to life."

2. What was the effect of the three strike law?

California saw a 37% drop in crime in the first four years after implementing "Three Strikes".

3. What kind of affect will prop 36 have in the jail system?

It will "make room in prison for dangerous felons"; specifically, "Prop. 36 will help stop clogging overcrowded prisons with non-violent offenders, so we have room to keep violent felons off the streets."

4. What does prop 36 try to change?

It will "make the punishment fit the crime"; specifically, "Precious financial and law enforcement resources should not be improperly diverted to impose life sentences for some non-violent offenses. Prop. 36 will assure that violent repeat offenders are punished and not released early.

5. Compared to other states how did the 3 strike law match up?

While all states have seen drops [in crime], none have as much as in California.

About Us

Hi, my name is Edgar Limon. I am your average college student just trying to get by. I usually like to spend my spare time longboarding or playing Black Ops 2. I am for Prop 36 for many reasons.

My name is Logan Wilson I am a republican and I am I am 19 years old. I’m an admirer of the great President Ronald Reagan. I currently am attending CSUN and I am studying to become a political science major.

My name is Guillermo Galvez, I am 19 years old and I am a freshman at California State University, Northridge. Film is a great interest of mine, so I am majoring in Pre-cinema and I hope to have a career in film upon graduation.

Hello my name is Henry. I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California.

Hi my name is Richard Sanchez. I’m 18 years old and I’m from Pasadena.

Hello, I'm Joseph LeGarreta. I'm from the San Fernando Valley and I am currently a freshman at CSUN studying Computer Information Technology. I enjoy films, sports, playing the guitar, and I always like learning something new.

I hope to open the minds of those who read this blog to all sides of proposition 36, and perhaps even change their perspectives.

I found it very interesting how prior to writing this blog I didn't have a solid opinion on proposition 36. However, after having done research and reading numerous articles, I can say I am in favor of the proposition.

I learned that issues like this are not always black and white. If you take the time to read other people's perspectives on issues and their experiences, it is likely to have an effect on you. It is important that people in our society take the time to research current events and educate themselves. I'm a busy person just like anyone else, but I aim to set aside a bit of time every day to read the news. Issues like proposition 36 effect us all, even if indirectly.

I recommend the readers keep an open mind while going through this blog, and try to understand not only what the authors wrote, but the authors themselves.

Hello, my name is Yanet Avacu Gutierrez! I am 18 years old and I’m majoring in Communications at California State University Northridge.

We hope that our readers become educated on the subject of “Three Strikes” law and how it affects our community as a whole. This a current issue that has a great impact on our society. We hope that our readers become inspired to research more into these topics and form their own opinions.

The most interesting thing we found was how these laws affect prison terms. We often heard about terms such as “25 years to life in jail” but we never realized how long 10, 20, or 30 years in prison could be for a certain individual. We also found the history of how the “Three Strikes” law, or Prop 184, came into affect.

We learned the legalities of the “Three Strikes” law that we didn’t know before. We didn’t know that a second strike conviction received double the prison sentence. We also learned how Prop 36 worked to change parts of Prop 184. We realized how important our decisions can be on ourselves and our loved ones. We also learned the impact of our laws and how it emotionally affected every one of us. We plan to stay up to date on any future initiatives on the “Three Strikes” law so that we are able to voice our opinions.
We recommend that our readers research these topics. Simple things such as watching the news for an hour every morning really helps. Also, look into who is supporting these propositions and for what reasons. We found many helpful credible websites that helped us understand Prop 36. Also, social media sites such as YouTube posted informational and unbiased videos.