Justice Works! 3-Strikes Clemency News
3-Striker Mary London released
Governor Gregoire granted clemency to Mary London on June 28. We congratulate Governor Gregoire on her wise decision and wish Ms. London the best in re-entering the community!
3-Striker Larry Fisher recommended for clemency
On June 10, Washington's Pardons and Clemency Board (WCPB) voted to recommend clemency for Larry Fisher, the nation’s longest-serving 3-Striker. The decision whether to release Mr. Fisher will be made by the Governor.
Mr. Fisher joins four other 3-Strikers, Stevan Dozier, Al-Kareem Shadeed, Michael Bridges, and Mary London, who received unanimous positive recommendations from WCPB. Mr. Dozier was released in 2009. Mary London was released on June 28, 2011. The others await the Governor's decision.
All five were sentenced to Life Without Parole for crimes classified in the lowest quarter of criminal seriousness under state law. Today, these defendants would not be charged under 3-Strikes. They would likely serve sentences of 10-15 years.
See below for a sample message and contact information for Governor Gregoire to thank her for her decisions to release Stevan Dozier and Mary London and to encourage her to make the same decisions for the other 3-Strikers.
Sample message to Governor Gregoire
Governor Chris Gregoire
Office of the Governor
PO Box 40002
Olympia, WA 98504-0002
360-902-4111
WEBFORM: http://www.governor.wa.gov/contact/
Date:
Dear Governor Gregoire:
Thank you for acting on the unanimous recommendations of Washington's Clemency and Pardons Board by granting clemency to 3-Strikers Stevan Dozier and Mary London. These are compassionate, just, and wise decisions!
Please also approve clemency for 3-Strikers Al-Kareem Shadeed, Michael Bridges, and Larry Fisher.
All these individuals have sincerely expressed remorse for their actions and, even under the weight of Life Without Parole sentences, have worked for years to better themselves, addressing the addiction, health, and educational issues that contributed to their wrongful decisions. All have demonstrated community support and a road map for successful life on the outside.
As you know, prosecutors no longer call for 3-Strikes sentences for defendants with only Robbery 2 convictions. If Shadeed, Michael, and Larry committed these crimes today, they would receive sentences of 2-4 years. These people remain in prison because of the historical accident of when they committed their crimes - not because their life sentences protect public safety or uphold justice.
There is no public safety, justice, or fiscal reason to keep Al-Kareem Shadeed, Michael Bridges, or Larry Fisher in prison. Their release will make Washington safer allowing the funds now spent to imprison them to be used for effective crime fighting.
