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The following timeline highlights some key events related to the evolution of the "three-strikes
and you're out" legislation as featured in The Legacy: Murder & Media, Politics & Prisons, a film
by Michael J. Moore.
Washington
State
First national "Three Strikes and You're Out" initiative
proposed, mandating minimum sentences
for repeat felons. Initiative
fails to gain enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. (1)
California
July 1992: Mike Reynolds, whose daughter was shot to death by a
convicted felon three weeks earlier, convenes informal group of judges,
attorneys and law enforcement reps to discuss sentencing practices.
The California "Three Strikes"
movement begins to evolve from here. (2)
Washington
State
Washington state "Three Strikes" bill fails in the legislature,
but voters in November pass a ballot initiative with 76% approval. The
law takes effect on December 2, 1993. (3)
California
April 20: Mike Reynolds testifies before the legislature
in support of Three Strikes bill. There is little support for the bill
and his testimony is overshadowed by ATF invasion in Waco, TX. (2)
November 30: Convicted felon
Richard Allen Davis is arrested and subsequently charged with the kidnapping
and murder of 12-year old Polly Klaas. (12)
December: Klaas family learns of the "Three Strikes"
initiative. (5)
December: KGO radio in San Francisco launches signature
drive in support of "Three Strikes" initiative.
People line up for 3 blocks seeking petitions. (4)
December: Marc Klaas joins Mike Reynolds in support
of "Three Strikes" initiative.
(5)
California
January 11, 1994: Republican Assemblyman Bill Jones announces his candidacy
for the Secretary of State in California and his support of the "Three
Strikes" initiative. (7)
February 17: Marc
Klaas ends his support of the "Three Strikes" bill in favor of the Rainey
bill, legislation that specifically
deals with violent offenders. (6)
March 7: In a televised
ceremony, Governor Pete Wilson signs into law bill AB971, the legislative
version of "Three Strikes" that was reintroduced by Bill Jones. (10)
March 7: Mike Reynolds
officially submits petitions for "Three Strikes" initiative for the November
ballot. Reynolds submits over 800,000 signatures, more than twice the
necessary amount. (2)
September 1994:
Omnibus Crime Bill signed into law; this is a federal version of "Three
Strikes". (11)
November 8, 1994:
Proposition 184--"Three Strikes and You're Out"--is ratified
by overwhelming voter support and goes into effect November 9, 1994.(13)
The initiative requires
a 2/3 vote by both houses to amend or repeal.
Nationally
Colorado, Connecticut, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, New Mexico,
North Carolina, Virginia and Wisconsin implement "Three Strikes" legislation.
(14)
Nationally
Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota,
Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, and Vermont implement "Three
Strikes" legislation. (14)
California
The state supreme court in People vs. Romero permits a trial
court to strike a defendant's prior convictions. (15)
California
January 1998: The state supreme court narrows the decision in People vs.
Romero and limits judge's power to disregard prior convictions.
(16)
November 1998:
By this date, one in four California inmates were sentenced under "Three
Strikes". (15)
(9) Senator Tom Hayden introduces SB79, an amendment that would limit
third strike sentencing to violent and serious offenses.
Nationally
As of 1999, 24 states and the Federal Government have some form of "Three
Strikes" legislation on the books.
(14)
Sources:
1.
The Legacy: Murder & Media, Politics & Prison,a film by Michael
J. Moore, 1999.
2. Mike Reynolds interview, The Legacy: Murder
& Media, Politics & Prison, 1999.
3. Lubman, Sarah, Anticrime measures, term limits
pass in referendums; school vouchers lose, Wall Street Journal,
Nov. 4, 1993, p. A16.
4. Ron Owens (KGO Radio) interview, The Legacy:
Murder & Media, Politics & Prison, 1999.
5. Marc Klaas interview, The Legacy: Murder & Media,
Politics & Prison, 1999.
6. Marc Klaas prefers Rainey Bill to 'three strikes'
initiative, San Francisco Chronicle, February 18, 1994, p. D3.
7. Jones seeks GOP nomination for secretary of state,
The Los Angeles Times, January 12, 1994, p. A16.
8. California Dept. of Corrections, 1998.
9. Justice Policy Institute.
10. Vlae, Kershner, et al, 'Three strikes' signed
into California law,' San Francisco Chronicle, March 8, 1994,
p. A1.
11. Anderson, Theresa, Legislative Wrap-up, Security
Management, December 1994, page 70.
12. Sonenshine, Ron, 'Convicted kidnapper held in
Polly case,' San Francisco Chronicle, December 2, 1993, p. A1.
13. Morain, Dan, et al., 'Voters approve 'three strikes'
law, reject smoking measure,' The Los Angeles Times, November
9, 1994, p. A3.
14. Clark, John, et al., 'Three Strikes and You're
Out': A Review of State Legislation', National Institute of Justice
Research in Brief, September 1997.
15. Henry J. Reske, 'Three Strikes, You Might Be
Out,' American Bar Association Journal, September 1996.
16. Decision in People v. Benson, California Court
of Appeals, 1998.
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