A challenge to California’s “Three Strikes” sentencing law is on the ballot this fall with Proposition 36. Proponents say some felonies should not result in life in prison. Opponents say a change in the law would allow dangerous criminals to be released.
The proposition lists felonies that would qualify as a serious or violent crime - or 'strike' - and would make a defendant eligible for a life sentence.
Sharmin Bock has helped convict dozens of child sex traffickers.
“In my 23 years as a prosecutor, I have to say, I have never seen a defendant as manipulative and dangerous as a trafficker,” says Bock.
Bock is an assistant district attorney in Alameda County, and co-author of Proposition 35. The initiative would increase prison time for people convicted of forcing others into commercial sex or labor - and could fine them more than a million dollars. She says Prop 35 would crack down on people who exploit children.
Our series on the initiatives Californians will be voting on next month continues with a look at Proposition 34, which would repeal the death penalty.
Both sides of the capital punishment debate actually see eye to eye on one thing – the current system isn’t working.
“We haven’t put somebody to death in six years. It is simply a broken system that’s wasted $4 billion or $5 billion," says Steve Smith with the Yes on 34 campaign.
Fresno County is exploring the possibility of contracting with other counties to house inmates in their jails, as soon as January of next year.
The Board of Supervisors voted to move forward with the analysis of what such a plan would cost at its meeting on Tuesday.
It’s part of an effort to stem the early release of prisoners from the county jail. A pair of new state laws allow counties to place inmates in jail facilities in other counties when their own jails reach capacity.
