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A Mother's Fight Against '3-Strikes Law' Helps Hundreds

avatar By Jeanne Goddard

11 Apr 2013 46 views
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A Mother's Fight Against '3-Strikes Law' Helps Hundreds
Since the November election, 240 California prisoners facing potential life sentences have been set free. That's because voters changed California's tough three strikes sentencing law, which sent thousands of people to prison for terms of 25 years to life for minor, nonviolent crimes. The campaign's success is due in no small part to Sue Reams. Her son was one of those released, after 17 years in prison.

Since the November election, 240 California prisoners facing potential life sentences have been set free. That's because voters changed California's tough three strikes sentencing law, which sent thousands of people to prison for terms of 25 years to life for minor, nonviolent crimes.

The ballot initiative's success is due in no small part to Sue Reams. Her son was one of those released, after 17 years in prison.

But she isn't done fighting having gained her son's freedom. She believes that the initiative didn't go far enough.

"For me this has become a way of life," she says. "People are [still] in [prison] for stealing baby food, for stupid things. And they don't deserve a life sentence for that."

(READ the full story from NPR News – WATCH an interview with Sue below)

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