3-Strike Reform

SB 5053, prime sponsor: Senators Adam Kline

In Washington State, individuals convicted of “3 strikes” may be sentenced to life without parole.  The bill would permit 3-Strikers convicted of Class B felonies only (primarily Robbery 2 and Assault 2) — currently serving Life Without Parole (LWOP) — to apply for parole after serving 15 years.  It would exclude 3-Strikers convicted of crimes with deadly weapons or sexual motivation from eligibility.

Contacts are particularly important if you live in the district of one of the Senate Judiciary Committee members (Leg. Dist. in parentheses):

Adam Kline, Chair (37)
Nick Harper (38)
Cheryl Pflug (5)
Mike Carrell (28)
James Hargrove (24)
Jeanne Kohl-Welles (36)
Debbie Regala (27)
Pam Roach (31)

This small – but critical — reform would apply to future defendants as well as an estimated 15-20 individuals currently serving LWOP for lower-seriousness crimes.

Please MAKE A DIFFERENCE by calling, emailing, or writing a Judiciary Committee member if you are a constituent, asking for support for SB 5053.