Feb. 27th and 28th: Contra Costa Newspapers Analyze Use of 3-Strikes
Law in Their County Versus Other Counties
John Hill, reporting for the Contra Costa Newspapers (hotcoco.com), did
an extensive study of the 3-strikes law as it is being applied in Contra Costa.
While the series concludes that prosecutors do use their discretion quite a
bit, it also demonstrates that many who are caught in the law are nonviolent
and non-serious offenders (and a disproportionate number of people caught in
its net are people of color).
Click
here to read the 1st day of the series.
On the second day of the
series, Hill reveals the pressure put on defendants to plead guilty even if
they want to fight it or might be innocent because of the huge gap between a 6
or 8 year plea bargain and the possible 25 years-to-life sentence if they go to
trial. In addition, Hill also shows the disparity in sentencing that can occur
from one county to another county as he examines cases in Alameda County versus
Contra Costa County.
Click
here to read the 2nd day of the series.
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reprinted, or reposted without permission of Families to Amend California's
3-Strikes.
Date last modified: 06/22/00.