3-Strike Stories: ARTHUR C. MEFFORD
3/1/98
ARTHUR C. MEFFORD C-22481
B-4-218-U
P.O. BOX 7500
CRESCENT CITY, CA. 95531
I am writing you concerning the fight to Amend California's Three Strikes Law.
Being one person serving fifty-four year to life for possession of less than .01 grams
of meth. And constructive possession of a shotgun being used as collateral to get my auto
out of impound by a friend I am very concerned about getting this law amended.
Like a lot of other people I have been writing letters to all the Assembly members
telling them my story. Making them aware of the injustice of this law, and asking them to
Vote to Amend the Law to address only Violent, or Serious offenders as they intended it to
do from the start.
I received a response from Assembly woman Dion Louise Aroner stating, she does not
support the three strikes Law. She also stated that SB1317 was shot down in committees,
and is not aware that Senator Barbara Lee is reintroducing the Bill again. If this is the
case, your office may want to contact her so that we inform her. She may also put you in
contact with other assembly persons, or organizations or people willing to support our
cause. Her address is as followed: Dion Louise Aroner, Assembly woman, Fourteenth
District. California Legislature, State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 445-7554
Fax(916) 445-6434 District office: 918 Parker, Berkeley, CA 94710 (510) 540-3660 Fax:
(510) 540-3655 101 Broadway, Richmond, Ca 94804 (510) 234-0211 Fax; (510) 234-0213
Assembly Woman Aroner is on the Judiciary Committee also. So as I said she could be a
good person to have on our side, and for good leads.
I also have all my family and friends writing letters and doing a small part. I am
from Humbolt County, and have written both College Newspapers, and a Christen Newspaper
hopping for support. I have sent each of these fliers from CATS and FACTS. In all my
writing I have tried to express the following points about this Law. That I think the
People of this state are not aware of.
1. That the Law P.C. 667(A)(ii) is the Laws bring used to give a person life in prison
is not the law for which the Voters of this stated Voted. 1170.12(A) is the law the Voters
Voted for, and not the Law signed by Pete Wilson.
2. That not everyone is getting action because of the Ramaro decision, and the courts
are not considering everyone. Especially if it is a poor county having to pay extra to
Bering someone back for consideration.
3. The Voters though a person would have to commit a serious or violent crime, get out
of jail and they do the same types of crimes, get busted again, and continue to commit the
same offenses to get three strikes your out. This is not so.
I was busted in 1980 for one crime that had two serious charges as part of the same
crime. These were the two strikes used to give me life in prison. So I do not have a
pattern of serious or violent crimes in my past, and have only been arrested once for a
serious crime. I have been to Prison 3 prior times because of that addiction, and they
used that to justify the Double life in a prison sentence.
4. That the courts are going back 10-20 years or more to use charges, or I should say
priors as strikes. My strike happened in 1980, eighteen years ago, and since then I have
only been arrested for possession of small amounts of Drugs, and D.U.I. ( This may not
make me a model citizen, but I do not think it shows me as a continual violent or serous
criminal either)
I think they should cover these Four Points to the Public, so they can see what is
really happening and how this law is being used today.
Thank you for all that you have done for each of us that are sitting in prison for
life because of this law. I am a believer of Jail and Prisons for the people that need it,
but Life is Prison for being a Drug Addict, or Petty Crimes is way out of line.
P.S. I was watching a news program on the Department of Corrections taking our
weights, cutting our hair and taking our Law Books. An Assemblyman Carl Washington was Pro
Inmate for us, keeping our Law Library. So he may also favor Amending the three strikes
Law and another good one to contact. His address is Carl Washington, Assemblyman, 145 E.
Compton Street, Compton, CA. 90220 Phone # (916) 445-7486 State Capital Room 2136
Sacramento, CA. 95814
Please send questions or comments to facts@mediaone.net.
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Date last modified: 3/18/98.