Third-Strike Offenses

Summary: The measure would change the state’s three-strikes law, which provides sentences of 25 years to life for a person convicted of a third felony, regardless of its seriousness, if the person has two convictions for serious or violent felonies. Under Proposition 66, the third strike also would have to be a serious or violent felony. The proposition would redefine which crimes are considered strikes and would increase punishment for certain sex crimes against children.

Supporters: Several civil rights groups, including the ACLU and the NAACP, the California Democratic Party and many church organizations back the measure. Jerry Keenan, whose son could benefit from changing the definition of serious or violent felonies, gave more than $1.5 million to gather signatures. Since the measure qualified, he has donated more than $405,000.

Opponents: The state’s 58 district attorneys, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer, law enforcement agencies and the California Correctional Peace Officers Assn., the union for the state’s prison guards, oppose the measure. By late September, opponents had raised more than $177,000, nearly $150,000 of the funds from the guards’ union.

Impact: Thousands of inmates would be eligible for resentencing. Of states with three-strike laws, only California allows the third strike to be for a less serious offense.

Opponents of the measure say that in many cases, even if the final strike was for a less serious offense, the people involved are serious career criminals.

Supporters say about 4,000 second- and third-strikers would be eligible for resentencing if the law is changed; the California District Attorneys Assn. estimates that 26,000 could be released early.

The legislative analyst’s office estimates the proposition would save tens of millions of dollars initially, increasing to hundreds of millions, mainly by reducing prison costs.

Websites:

Yes on 66: www.voteyeson66.org.

No on 66: www.noprop66.org.