On Support of Three Strikes Reform

WHEREAS, the League of United Latin American Citizens is this nation’s oldest and largest Latino organization, founded in Corpus Christi, Texas on February 17, 1929; and

WHEREAS, LULAC throughout its history has committed itself to the principles that Latinos have equal access to opportunities in employment, education, housing and healthcare; and

WHEREAS, the state of California has legislated and initiated a Three Strike Law which allows nonviolent and non-serious offenders to receive 25 years-to-life sentences or greater in prison; and

WHEREAS, such sentences are cruel and unjust, upheld primarily against the poor and minority populations; and

WHEREAS, these draconian sentences for nonviolent and non-serious offenses are increasing the State of California's tax burden by billions of dollars when spending in other areas such as education, healthcare, job training, youth centers, libraries, etc. are in desperate need of increased funding; and

WHEREAS, studies done indicate that there is no correlation between the decrease in crime and the Three Strikes Law; and

WHEREAS, drug addiction is the overwhelming cause of nonviolent crimes and drug addiction is a treatable sickness; and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, be it resolved that the LULAC State Convention in Phoenix, Arizona on June 11,2011 endorses FACTS' proposal for reform, to confine the application of the Jaw to violent crimes only, which is what the public were told they were voting for in 1994. The proposal also grants re-sentencing hearings to the over 4,200 Third Strikers currently serving life sentences for nonviolent offenses.

Approved this 1st day of July 2011.

Margaret Moran
LULAC National President