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2011 Legislative Update

Senate Bill 5236 proposes to allow 3-Strikers who have no convictions for Class A felonies, armed crimes, or sexual offenses to apply for parole after serving 15 years. This would affect an estimated 10-20 individuals who have no convictions for crimes classified above the low end of the criminal seriousness scale at RCW 9.94A.515.

In the 2011 session, this bill did clear the Rules committee to qualify for a vote in the Senate. However it was not chosen as one of the bills to receive a vote. It is ready to be voted on in 2012. We believe this represents the most progress made by a bill that would reduce the severity of 3-Strikes since the legislation was passed in 1993.

 

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ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN

In 1993, Washington became the first state in the nation to pass a 3-Strikes law. Voters approved I-593 on promises that it would keep the most violent people in Washington state behind bars permanently. Since then, the federal government and nearly half the states in the nation have passed similar laws.

Research shows that the 3-Strikes laws have high cost, low effectiveness, and unintended consequences. Crime has been falling across the nation since 1993, the year Washington's 3-Strikes law was first approved by initiative. A Justice Policy Institute study shows that it has fallen faster in states that do not have Three Strikes laws. Washington's Three Strikes population is 40% African American, compared with a state population that is less than 4% African American. The most common convictions triggering life sentences under 3-Strikes in Washington State are classified in the lowest quarter of Washington's 16-level scale of seriousness at RCW 9.94A.515. The majority of 3-Strikes convictions are not classified as "Serious Violent Offenses".

 

FILMS
Justice Is No Game: A Briefing on Washington's 3-Strikes Law Click here for full-screen

 

Click on images below to view short excerpts of interviews.  

Dan Satterberg
King County Prosecuting Attorney
Larry Gossett
King County Councilmember		 

David Conyers
Schawn Cruze
Michael Hoover

James Moody
Paul Rivers
John Wheeler

Stonney Rivers
Larry Fisher
Bobbi Dreier
Speaking about her friend Larry Fisher