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The
Three Strikes and Child Protection Act of 2004
Citizens Against Violent Crime
Citizens Against Violent Crime (CAVC) was formed in 1999 by Christy
Johnson, Frank Mitchell, Sam Clauder, Jim Benson and Joe Klaas,
grandfather to Polly Klaas.
The formation of CAVC was in direct response to the ineffective
and overly liberal approach being taken by other groups seeking
to amend the 3-Strikes law. The founding board of directors of CAVC
believed that while FACTS and other "amend 3-Strikes" organizations
had existed for years, their approach was either too liberal or
simply one of protest, and their opportunities for success limited.
Once formed, CAVC set out to build a broad based organization of
people and groups from a cross-section of California - conservative
Republicans, Liberal Democrats, elected officials, community leaders,
members of the clergy, victims rights and children's rights groups
and prisoner families.
A Brief History of Citizens Against Violent Crime
Upon formation, CAVC immediately began to develop a plan and a program
to place a measure on either the 2002 or 2004 statewide ballot.
After failing to find the necessary funds for a 2002 effort, CAVC
focused its efforts and raised the necessary funds to place an amendment
on California's November 2004 statewide ballot.
Entitled, "The Three Strikes and Child Protection Act of 2004,"
the measure will remove non-violent and petty crimes from the list
of "strikeable" offenses and increase sentences to 1-Strike for
child molesters.The Three Strikes and Child Protection Act of 2004
was developed after several years of research and review of the
original law, every piece of legislation and law related to strike-enhanced
sentences, every bill that had been proposed in California's State
Assembly and Senate, and then every code referred to in each piece
of legislation.
In 2002 CAVC commissioned a poll from the respected polling firm
of Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin & Associates to test voter awareness
and attitudes towards amending the current 3-Strikes law. The poll
also tested certain changes and enhancements for voter approval.
The poll results showed that voters would support an amendment to
Three-Strikes by nearly a 2 to one 1 if it amended the law so only
violent and serious crimes would count as strikes.
Working with CAVC throughout this process was a panel of experts
- defense attorneys, public defenders, deputy district attorneys,
criminal and civil attorneys and elected officials. Suggestions
and comments were received and considered from other 3-Strike related
organizations including, People to Amend California's Three Strike
Law (PATS), Californian's To Amend The Three-Strike Law (CATS) Parents
For Treatment and Healing (A NEW PATH) and representatives from
the Riverside, Placerville, Orange County, Sacramento and San Jose
chapters of Families to Amend California's Three Strikes (FACTS).
This panel, armed with CAVC's research, their own knowledge and
practical experience and the polling results, set-out to craft The
Three Strikes and Child Protection Act of 2004.
CAVC's path has not been easy. But our dogged determination and
our deep-seated belief in the cause of amending 3-Strikes has propelled
us to the point where we are - placing "The Three Strikes and Child
Protection Act of 2004" on the November 2004 ballot.
Your interest in CAVC is appreciated - and your participation is
welcomed.
The Three Strikes Act of 2004 will:
Return the Three-Strikes law to what the voters originally intended
- a law to keep violent criminals in prison, by amending the
law to require mandatory increased sentences only when convictions
are for a violent felony such as rape, robbery or murder.
Preserve
the original intent of the three-strikes law so that violent,
dangerous criminals will continue to be punished harshly, with
mandatory sentences of double-time for a second violent felony
and 25 years-to-life for a third violent felony.
Conform
California's Three-Strikes law with those that are working well
in 26 other states. Right now, California's law is the only
one that applies to non-violent crimes.
Allow
prisoners now serving Three-Strikes sentences to apply for and
receive a re-sentencing hearing and as many as 35,000 could
qualify for one because their offense would no longer count
as a strike.
Save
the state as much as 700 million dollars a year in prison operating
costs, and more than a billion dollars for construction of new
prisons. |
Attorney General's Summary and Title of The Three Strikes and
Child Protection Act of 2004
The Attorney General of California has prepared the following title
and summary of the chief purpose and points of the proposed measure:
LIMITATIONS ON "THREE STRIKES LAW". SEX CRIMES. PUNISHMENT.
INITIATIVE STATUTE.
Amends "Three Strikes" law to require increased sentences only
when current conviction is for specified violent and/or serious
felony. Redefines violent and serious felonies. Only prior convictions
for specified violent and/or serious felonies, brought and tried
separately, would qualify for second and third "strike" sentence
increases. Allows conditional re-sentencing of persons with
sentences increased under "Three Strikes" law if previous sentencing
offenses, or prior convictions used to increase sentences, would
no longer qualify as violent and/or serious felonies.
Increases punishment for specified sex crimes against children.
Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance
of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Unknown, but
significant net savings to the state ranging from several tens
of millions of dollars to several hundreds of millions of dollars
annually due to lower prison operating costs partially offset
by costs associated with court-related activities, parole supervision,
and the incarceration of and counseling services for sex offenders.
Potential state deferral of several hundreds of millions of
dollars in capital outlay costs associated with delayed construction
of additional prison beds. Increased one-time costs of up to
several tens of millions of dollars for jail and court-related
costs; ongoing costs of a couple of tens of millions of dollars. |
JOIN THE CAMPAIGN KICK-OFF HOST A HOUSE PARTY
by Joe Klaas
The campaign to win passage of "The Three Strikes and Child Protection
Act of 2004" has begun. Mike Reynolds, the proponent of the original
Three Strikes law, has formed a campaign committee and begun his
attacks.
While we cannot stop the attacks and misrepresentations by Mike
Reynolds and others, we must do everything possible to communicate
our message to the voters. We cannot do that without your help.
Your help is needed in two ways:
First, please make a contribution of $2,500, $1,000, $500, $250,
$100, or $50.
Second,
host a small house party by June 30th for your friends, neighbors,
colleagues and others to raise much needed funds for CAVC, and
further spread our message. Hosting a small house party by yourself
or with friends will take little time or effort. |
To
help you along, you can CLICK
HERE for our PDF format "House Party Handbook" on the campaign
website. If you agree to host a house party, the campaign will do
whatever it can to help you.
The campaign formed against us is titled "Californians United For
Public Safety." Some have referred to them as CUPS. We prefer to
call them the "EMPTY CUPS."
As is to be expected, the EMPTY CUPS argue in favor of Three Strikes
and its impact on crime in California. These arguments, and many
more, will continue. Mostly, they will attempt to scare voters into
believing that dangerous and violent criminals will be released
from jail if our initiative passes.Opponents ignore the injustice
and cost to taxpayers of sentencing a non-violent, petty offender
to 25-years to life for walking out of a store with a $199 VCR.
They continue to support a costly law that is so flawed that many
District Attorneys refuse to prosecute non-violent petty crimes
as third strikes.
We know what our opponents are going to do and say. We know that
you will vote for passage of this important initiative. But what
we don't know is just how much you will do to help us win in November.
Whatever your level of participation, your help is needed today.
We need your contributions and your agreement to host a house party
by June 30th.
Please CLICK
HERE to volunteer to host a house party, or to make a contribution
CLICK
HERE or send a check, made payable to CAVC, to us at 12922
Harbor Blvd., Garden Grove, CA 92840.
Your continued support will be critical to our victory in November.
Please send your contribution today…and please sign-up at www.amend3strikes.org
to hold a house party or call Jim Benson at 1-866-3STRIKES.
Onward to victory,
Joe Klaas
Chairman
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There are no limits on personal or corporate contributions. Contributions
to "Citizens Against Violent Crime" are not tax deductible as charitable
contributions for federal income tax purposes. We cannot accept
donations from foreign nationals.
Paid for and maintained by Citizens Against Violent Crime, major
funding by Watchdog Over Legislation Foundation Committee and business
owner Jerry Keenan. Citizens Against Violent Crime, 1625 17th St,
Ste 105, Santa Ana, CA 92705 FPPC #1220428.
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