3-Strike Story: Eric Curtis

I am presently incarcerated in Salinas Valley State Prison in Soledad, California. I was one of the first African American’s to be convicted under what has become known as the "Draconian" Three Strikes Law.

Since 7/1/95, the day after my sentencing I have seen inprisoned for what the courts call my part in a Robbery. The power that be, saw a golden opportunity to teach another African American a lesson (while at the same time locking up the two black males that actually pled guilty) by locking me up and throwing away the key.

In the process taking me away from my three children one of which my 73 year old mother has been in care of since my incarceration. My two sons were fortunate to have a mother to love and care for them were as my daughter only had me in her life. Now she is without a mother or a father which can only do her harm in the long-run.

I have never been to Cal. Youth Auth.. or any Juvenile halls before I went to prison in 1992. I am not a drug dealer, past or present, not a gang member who does drive-by killings, in fact I never killed anyone! I do not confess to being a saint, because those are rare in Los Angeles where I was brought up as a child, or in Cal. For that matter. But I do know an injustice when I see one and I’m a prime example.

I was arrested and tried in Sacramento. Ca., were I worked and lived with my girlfriend and kids. At the time, the conviction rate was like 95% which was made up of black and Hispanic offenders. I will admit again that I’ve been to prison once before and it’s something I’ve taken full responsibility for. Being emotionality and financially unstable at the time more then anything. I committed two robberies one night and I paid the price of two years in prison for it. But all-in-all as a child I was taught the difference between right and wrong so I have no excuse for my actions. In 1995 I found myself on trial for robbery after a year of trying to convince my attorney I was not involved. By the time my trial started I lost on those jurors essential to me having a fair trial. All the African Americans were dismissed without good cause with the exception of two.

In the end I was convicted of constructive possession and evading a peace officer. I was given two life sentences for a total of 50 years to life or what should be called a "Slow Death". While the two actual guilty one were given five and ten years, both with prior convictions.

The third appellate district court of California affirmed my convictions that I constructively possessed a firearm and with willful disregard for the safety of others evaded a police officer and or offerers I showed in every way possible that I had no involvement in the crime that took place that night and in some ways the jurors believed my testimony. But without the proper representation there was no way I was going to walk out of that court room and all because I would not pled guilty.

You may realize that in 1994 every Public Defender and District Attorney wanted to defend and or prosecute as many "Three Strike" cases as possible without thought to the effect it would have on the people sentenced under the law. Their families or the general public for that matter.

There are father, sons, uncle, husbands, and their wives who are innocent and are rotting away in these warehouses called Correctional Facilities. If we do not cry out for help from our own and our community and anyone who will listed, then as you say, how can we expect to be heard or set free?

My respects and sympathy goes out to the victim of that stroke, but to kill two birds with two stones not justice. My conviction was truly unjust and I believe I was sent to prison to justify the building of these warehouses with the tax payers hard earned money.

I read that 85% of all ex-cons return to prison before their parole is up. That is not the way to correct a person but it’s the fastest way to corrupt a persons mind. The drugs, gangs and serration is ever present in prison.

The racism and homosexuality is so clearly gratified, that there is no way a person, man, or woman could leave prison without the gory scenes playing over and over again in ones mind. I have written so many letters of this nature, to the A.C.L.U., N.A.A.C.P. and others but all to no avail. I’ve been trying to wake up the black and Hispanic community of Los Angeles and let them know we have to break the chains of this in just going on in the California Courts and all over the U.S. By the year 2015, 70% of the black community will be either in or on their way to one of the fastest growing businesses in California, the Deportment of no Corrections.

I have always tried to do what was right by helping my people and people of color. Now I’m in prison and as I said before my children are growing up without their father. Is this cycle going to repeat itself until we are no more?

My parents are in their mid 70's, my father had a stroke in 97 and my mom went through a double by-pass a few months after that and I can only blame myself. Me being in here with little hope of getting out, and them haven to raise my nine year old daughter. My two son’s need me just as much as they need an education, they’re getting the education but have no father, and for a child any child to grow up without either of the two just will not work and more then likely this is where they’ll end up.

In conclusion, I believe if you’re guilty of a crime, in my heart I think one should do the time, but lets not forget about those who are truly innocent and did not get a fare shake. There is such people, example, Clarence Chance that as just released after seventeen years. I also believe in justice, but as it stands now, all I see is just us!!!

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Date last modified: 9/17/98.

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