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    Back to Which Way, L.A.?

    Which Way, L.A.?

    Prop. 36: Changes to the 'Three Strikes' Law

    In 1994, Californians cracked down on so-called "career criminals" by passing a law called Three Strikes and You're Out . If a defendant has prior convictions for two "serious" or "violent" crimes, it provides that any third felony conviction will mean a mandatory sentence of life in prison.

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    By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

    In 1994, Californians cracked down on so-called "career criminals" by passing a law called Three Strikes and You're Out. If a defendant has prior convictions for two "serious" or "violent" crimes, it provides that any third felony conviction will mean a mandatory sentence of life in prison. Proposition 36 on next month's ballot would change that. Michael Romano, director of the Three Strikes Project at Stanford University, is co-author of Prop 36. Mike Reynolds is a portrait photographer in Fresno, who wrote the original law after his 18-year-old daughter was murdered by two repeat offenders. He's opposed to Prop 36.

    The full episode

    1 of 3
    Debating the Death Penalty and Three Strikes
    1. 0:00Prop. 36: Changes to the 'Three Strikes' LawYou’re reading this
    2. 13:35Prop. 34: The End of the Death Penalty Initiative
    3. 26:01Targeted Killings, Drones and the Role of the CIA
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Anna Scott

      Former KCRW Housing and Homelessness Reporter

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Caitlin Shamberg

      KCRW

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Evan George

      Director of Content, News

    • KCRW placeholder

      Michael Romano

      Stanford's Three Strikes Project

    • KCRW placeholder

      Mike Reynolds

      author of the original Three Strikes Law

      News

    The full episode

    1 of 3
    Debating the Death Penalty and Three Strikes
    1. 0:00Prop. 36: Changes to the 'Three Strikes' LawYou’re reading this
    2. 13:35Prop. 34: The End of the Death Penalty Initiative
    3. 26:01Targeted Killings, Drones and the Role of the CIA
    Back to Which Way, L.A.?