7-minute "short" on Washington 3-Strikes. Longer film forthcoming. Includes interviews and campaign footage.

ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN
Powerpoint: Washington's 3-Strikes

In 1993, Washington became the first state in the nation to pass a 3-Strikes law. Voters approved I-593 on promises that it would forever protect society from "the worst of the worst." Since then, the federal government and nearly half the states in the nation have passed similar laws.

The most common conviction triggering a life sentence under 3-Strikes in Washington State is Robbery 2, a crime in the lowest quartile of Washington's 16-level scale of seriousness at RCW 9.94A.515.

Research shows that the 3-Strikes laws have high cost, low effectiveness, and unintended consequences. Washington's Three Strikes population is 45% African American, compared with a state population that is less than 4% African American.

In 2001, Washington's Sentencing Guidelines Commission (SGC) recommended removing Robbery 2 and evaluating whether some forms of Assault 2, another lower-seriousness crime, should be removed from the 3-Strikes list as some forms are "probably not commensurate" with 3-Strikes status. (Washington Sentencing Guidelines Commission, Sentencing Reform Act Review, 2000/2001) For years, Washington legislators have introduced bills to do this. All bills have so far failed. We are told that, to change this law, there must be a public outcry. That is what this campaign is about.