newsh

C.A.T.S. CALIFORNIANS 2 AMEND 3 STRIKES is an organization that is dedicated to amending the three-strike law to do what it was intended to do, that is putting the violent/and or serious offenders in prison. Since its passing on 3/7/94 it has put anyone who has ever been convicted of or plead to "any" felony in prison for 25 years to life.

This is not what the voter was led to believe when this law was first enacted. People are being sent to prison for 25 years to life, not on what they have been arrested for, but for their past. Such as petty theft, an attempt to posses an "imitation controlled substance" - a macadamia nut, convicted of "an attempt to posses roc cocaine" - evidence a macadamia nut, being under the influence of alcohol or drugs, bouncing ones "own" check. Yet a man who beats his mother to death with a metal object because she is dying of cancer may not go to prison at all. We the taxpayers are paying upwards of $40,000 a year plus to keep non-violent and non-serious offenders in prison, and a MURDERER or CHILD MOLESTER does LESS time.

On top of all this the Department of Corrections is now violating even religious rights by making all inmates cut their hair. The Department of Corrections also wants all family members to buy anything that the family may wish to send to their loved ones from "their" stores. We all know that the prison industrial complex is the biggest money making business in California. We of California will soon be bankrupt, young adults will no longer be able to have all the books they need for an education. California is fast becoming The Prison State. We must let the political powers know that this is not what we voted for. We must amend SB 2048 to deal with the serious and/or violent offenders, not the minor offenders, not a person that has not been in trouble for 1,2, 5 or 10 years.

This law must be amended or we will be locking up anyone who has plead to or been convicted of "any" felony, even if it happened as a juvenile. We need your help to amend a law that borders on double jeopardy. They did the crime before and they did their time but they are being sent to prison for 25 years to life on their "past." Will you help? If so call or e-mail us. Thank you.

CATS