Three Strikes Law

Nov 29 2012

Third-striker suspect could face life in prison

A substance abuse counselor was charged with murder and other counts for allegedly driving drunk, running into a pedestrian and driving two miles with him embedded in her car’s windshield before other motorists stopped her.

Sherri Lynn Wilkins, 51, of Torrance, was arraigned Tuesday in Torrance Superior Court on one count each of murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, DUI causing injury, driving with a .08 percent or higher blood-alcohol content causing injury and leaving the scene of an accident, according to the district attorney’s office.

Oct 18 2012

OW recommendation: Yes

Proposition 36 revises the Three Strikes Law (Proposition 184, adopted in 1994) to impose life sentence only when a new felony conviction is serious or violent. It authorizes re-sentencing for offenders currently serving life sentences, if third strike conviction was not serious or violent and the judge determines the sentence does not pose unreasonable risk to public safety.

It continues to impose life sentence penalty, if the third strike conviction was for certain non-serious, nonviolent sex or drug offenses or involved firearm possession.

Oct 11 2012

A look at California’s tough Three Strikes law

In 1994, Dorothy Erskine’s nephew, Brian Smith, was arrested for shoplifting at Cerritos Mall soon after the public voted to pass the controversial Three Strikes law. Smith, 30 at the time, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

After spending 16 years advocating against California’s Three Strikes law, South Los Angeles resident Erskine believes this time next month she will have something to celebrate. If voters pass Proposition 36 in November, as she believes they will, her nephew could be released.

Mar 10 2011
Families to Amend Three Strikes

A cross section of Angelenos recently converged on the Hollywood Police station to mark the 17th anniversary of the Three Strikes Law and continue their demands that what they call an unjust law be amended.

David Beck Brown, (4th picture), who was almost a victim of the law himself, spoke about his case. Brown said he was being attacked with by a man with a gun, used his cane to defend himself and after calling 911, was arrested and charged himself. It would have been his third strike, had he not beat the case.

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.
 

Alabama
Freeman A. Hrabowski, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, will address the annual African American Business Council luncheon on June 28. Hrabowski, who is chairman of President Barack Obama’s Advisory Commission on Education Excellence for African Americans, has a national reputation for his work studying the performance of minority students in math and science. Hrabowski, named one of the 10 best college presidents in the country by Time magazine, was a child leader in the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham in the 1960s.
 

Arkansas
The Liberty Counsel filed a motion and a brief in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas seeking to intervene on behalf of a Concepts of Life crisis pregnancy center to defend against a suit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Reproductive Rights. The groups seek to impose a permanent injunction before the Human Heartbeat Protection Act goes into effect July 18. Liberty Counsel also filed a brief opposing the ACLU’s request for an injunction. The “Heartbeat” bill states that when a woman seeks an abortion at or after the 12th week, doctors must test for a fetal heartbeat before an abortion is performed and inform the pregnant mother that the child in her womb has a heartbeat. If a heartbeat is detected, a woman cannot have an abortion, except in cases of rape, incest, and if a mother’s life is in danger. “As we promised when the legislation was introduced, Liberty Counsel will defend this law without reservation for the people of Arkansas, born and pre-born,” said Matt Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel. “No right is more foundational than the right to life. Without life, all other rights are irrelevant,” concluded Staver.