WA State Grants Clemency to Three Strike Offender

By Jeralyn, Section Crime Policy
Posted on Thu Jun 11, 2009 at 02:27:59 PM EST
Tags: three-strikes (all tags)

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Meet Steven Dozier. He's the first inmate in Washington State serving a three-strikes sentence who has been granted clemency and released.

He's being closely monitored by many, including the District Attorney's office that supported his release.

Dozier spends his days pounding the streets — visiting politicians, community centers and school-district offices in search of an opportunity to share his story with elementary and junior-high-school children who are on the verge of falling into trouble.

"I'm tired of seeing them kids coming to prison. They need to learn from me and other people about our mistakes. We can contribute to them," Dozier said. "Once the kids get on the streets, it's hard to pull them off the streets. I'm looking at the prevention."

His release is also of benefit to Washington taxpayers. It costs $37,000 a year to house inmates. It sounds like King County prosecutor Dan Satterberg gets it: [More...]

Today, Satterberg will appear before the Clemency and Pardons Board in Olympia in support of early release for two other offenders, Al-Kareem Shadeed, 39, and Michael Bridges, 47, convicted robbers who are both serving life in prison for third-strike crimes.

"I think the purpose of their imprisonment has been realized," Satterberg said. "At this point they're changed individuals and don't pose a risk to public safety any longer."

You can access all of our criticism of three-strikes laws here.

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WA State Grants Clemency to Three Strike Offender | 6 comments (6 topical)

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the law is fine (4.00 / 1) (#1)
by diogenes on Thu Jun 11, 2009 at 03:37:07 PM EST

It's a lot easier to give clemency to a three strikes offender who is no longer dangerous than to somehow extend the sentence of a three strikes offender who remains as he was (i.e. a high risk to commit more crimes--to be convicted of three crimes as a rule you had committed many more).
So keep three strikes and persuade the states to be a bit more liberal with clemency.

Justice isn't baseball (5.00 / 1) (#3)
by MrConservative on Thu Jun 11, 2009 at 10:00:42 PM EST

There isn't a mathematical formula for justice. All three strikes laws in all forms need to be done away with, IMHO.


three felonies of any case (1.00 / 1) (#4)
by diogenes on Fri Jun 12, 2009 at 07:01:57 PM EST

The fact is that most criminals commit a number of crimes before being arrested. Most nonviolent criminals arrested with and charged with a felony with no prior record get to plead it down to a misdemenor, at least around here. These three strikes guys aren't kindly souls who accidentally committed only three crimes in their entire lives, all of which were felonies. They're career criminals. Let them earn their way back into society.


: And the person was not non-violent (1.00 / 1) (#5)
by nyjets on Sat Jun 13, 2009 at 08:19:52 AM EST

The person who was locked up for life had commited violent acts of robbery. His victims were assaulted. Therefore life for the guy was not unreasonable.

Particularly in states, like Washington, (4.50 / 2) (#2)
by Inspector Gadget on Thu Jun 11, 2009 at 03:58:47 PM EST

where the 3 strikes are for any felony. Personally, I think when all three crimes are non-violent, the 3 strikes really should be only for the maximum sentence for the worst of the 3 rather than life (or it shouldn't apply at all).


reasonable? (none / 0) (#6)
by moirao on Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 06:36:47 PM EST

so because a drug addict(90+%) supports his/her habit by robbing someone of their belongs is reason enough to feel that they will never change, never "get it", never be worthy of life as you see it?
these people took something that wasnt theirs...3 times! everything that was stolen CAN be replaced. review these people, not cases and if they have done something to change their lives and become productive then let them out to work and replace what was taken. petty Robbery 2 offenders and their like are locked up with people that have horrendous body counts...same sentence! those people cant replace the lives taken. someone that has a robbery 2 should be reviewed and the public needs to educate themselves on the loss of money and human life. those without sin, cast the first stone...