Legal Commentary

WA State Grants Clemency to Three Strike Offender

By Jeralyn

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.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on June 11, 2009 (boomark / email).