California's political prisoners.... (apartment, crime, credit)

[mother of a 3-striker...]

In view of the current Budget crisis, this letter brings awareness to the problem of the 3-strikes law. I published this letter for my son who does not have a computer or internet.

THE REAL POLITICAL PRISONERS OF CALIFORNIA

Did you know that there are still thousands of non-violent men and women serving 25-years –to-life sentences in California’s prison system. It’s the only state that warehouses criminals for crimes like joyriding, petty theft, attempted burglary, receiving stolen property, making criminal threats and petty drug possession.

These inmates receive no type of work time or good time credits. But someone who commits murder does receive these credits and is eligible in 17-years. A non- violent three-strike inmate, does not receive good time, work time behavior credits, and must serve the full 25-years before he or she is considered eligible for parole.

California continues to have enormous budget deficits, and a prison system that is extremely overcrowded, and draining State funds that would normally be used for education. However, the legislators continue to portray non-violent three strikes inmates as dangerous criminals who deserve to serve life sentence for crimes that would have ordinarily carried a 6-month to one-year county jail sentences.

Most of these inmates have already served over half of their 25-to-life sentences, and are up in age. They will surely need the medical services that the Federal Receiver is asking for in order to bring the California Prison System into compliance with Constitutional requirements.

The majority of these offenders have never killed, molested, raped or committed any violent acts against anyone. Most are drug abusers who have committed petty drug related offenses, that proper drug and alcohol treatment could become productive tax paying citizens, instead of tax burdens.

California is being fleeced by some politicians who want to build more prisons and continue warehousing non-violent three strike inmates, all the while knowing that, the expense of such a policy grows exponentially each year.

The California Prison System should not be allowed to continue draining the States assets for political gain, while breaking the back of the States education and other human resource organizations and institutions.

Education and treatment, not prisons are the best investments for California’s tax dollars.

Respectfully,

Zane Hustead H76164
Sentenced 25–to-life for evading arrest on November 7, 1997.

[EscapeCalifornia]

I consider 3 strikes to be the lifetime achievement award for people stupid enough to get caught and convicted 3 times.

[mother of a 3-striker...]

I understand your reasoning but after serving 12 years (beginning at age 24) for stupid mistakes like evading arrest, don't you think its a waste of taxpayers money and human resources to house these non-violent offenders for an additional 13 years?

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by mother of a 3-striker...

I understand your reasoning but after serving 12 years (beginning at age 24) for stupid mistakes like evading arrest, don't you think its a waste of taxpayers money and human resources to house these non-violent offenders for an additional 13 years?

I'd rather pay to lock him up than have my apartment broken into and my stuff sold for drug money or worse.

[MIKEETC]

Originally Posted by mother of a 3-striker...

I understand your reasoning but after serving 12 years (beginning at age 24) for stupid mistakes like evading arrest, don't you think its a waste of taxpayers money and human resources to house these non-violent offenders for an additional 13 years?

What were his prior convictions?

[mother of a 3-striker...]

At 20, he spent time for theft and at 22, burglary.

[Ultrarunner]

3 Strikes is the result of a very frustrated public and with good reason...

Criminals of "Non Violent" crime still terrorize their victims... I have a good friend that walked away from her home several years ago because it was broken into twice... she was terrified to sleep in her own home and still suffers from fear...

The crimes may be classified non-violent... but the suffering caused to innocent people is unconscionable.

By definition, a 3-strike offender is a repeat offender...

[Huckleberry3911948]

since when did burglary constitute being a political prisoner.

[Adriatica]

Originally Posted by mother of a 3-striker...

I understand your reasoning but after serving 12 years (beginning at age 24) for stupid mistakes like evading arrest, don't you think its a waste of taxpayers money and human resources to house these non-violent offenders for an additional 13 years?

No, I don't think it's a waste. Theft, burglary, and then evading arrest? Doesn't sound one bit like someone who has learned their lesson and has therefore earned the right to re-enter society. Those aren't "stupid mistakes"--they are CRIMES. Crimes that, even if they are non-violent, put everyone else in society at risk. Crimes that affect the victims for the rest of their lives.

That said, I have sympathy for the mother of someone who has made such choices. That must be a difficult position to be in. But it doesn't change the fact that someone guilty of these crimes is a threat.

[bhcompy]

Not in that situation, but I would think that someone with two strikes would be a little more careful about committing felonies, or even being in a situation that might somehow link to a felony or be construed as one.

Obviously they let him off easy the first few times, with short sentences that taught him little about cause and effect. He definitely had his chances to clean up his act.