3-Strike Stories: The Wife of Alan
Family History:
Alan was born in 1955. His mother died in his arms at the age of 14. He had a bad
relationship with his father. His younger brother was killed by robbers and his older
brother was killed by drive-by shootings. Alan started using heroin after his mother died.
I had been friends with Alan for 20 years and then we finally got married 2 years ago.
The Strikes:
1. Second degree residential burglary in 1983.
2. Petty theft.
3. Attempt to possess imitation drugs.
The Story:
Alan has been clean from drugs for 7 years, and home on parole for nearly 2 years. We
own a business.
He made amends with his teenage children from a prior marriage and has a close
relationship with them. We were just a plain average family.
Since Alan was arrested our business suffers because there is only myself to hold it
together. Our bills are hardly paid. Our children are confused and afraid of the system.
They can't repay us for what was taken away. We thought we had a good life and now they
have destroyed it.
Other Comments:
We are trading the minor offenders for the serious and violent offenders. The minor
offenders are going to prison and the serious and violent offenders are getting short
sentences. The 3-Strikes law is definitely an unjust law.
Please send questions or comments to facts@mediaone.net.
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Date last modified: 7/5/97.