Supreme Court Hears California-s Three Strikes Law

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The US Supreme Court today heard challenges to the toughest sentencing law in the nation. California-s landmark -Three Strikes- law, which is defended as part of the war on crime, has been attacked by opponents as -cruel and unusual punishment,- prohibited by the Constitution. The law penalizes a criminal who has committed two pervious serious or violent felonies, with 25-years to life for any third felony, even if the crime is as apparently trivial as shoplifting or petty theft. We get an update from the courtroom and hear more about both sides of the issue from two lawyers, Erwin Chemerinsky, who argued today-s case, and Mark Voss, who helped write an amicus brief for the prosecution.
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Credits

Host:

Warren Olney

Producer:

Frances Anderton