Anonymous, a warrant officer in the U.S. Military
I am an African American woman from California actively serving in the U.S. Military overseas. However, my nephew, who is 53 years old, is currently in year 17 of a life sentence under California’s Three Strike Law in Alameda County. Before his current term, my nephew was sent to prison pursuant to a plea deal for criminal actions in 1996. The plea deal was for a sentence of 8 years that resulted in him accumulating 4 strikes. He committed another robbery approximately 20 years later with no guns or physical violence against any victims, yet he was given a life sentence, a term that he is now serving.
As a public servant on active duty, I’m proud of the country I have served for 3 decades, however, such aspects of the criminal justice system make me feel ashamed. I struggle to understand how giving draconian sentences to individuals for non-capital crimes serves any interest. Does someone receive such a sentence for a crime in which no one was physically harmed or killed? Although I believe that crime must be punished, this is something far different.
For about a decade, I have watched laws change and improve for individuals committing crimes currently or for those who will commit crimes in the future. However, these laws forget about those like my nephew, who are already stuck in the system.
I am so glad that the RJA is now operating to bring relief to so many people of color who have these draconian sentences but are otherwise rehabilitated. I am also so grateful for individuals who work behind the scenes to make these opportunities possible, especially when data shows significant disparities in sentencing upon people of color.
