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Proponents of the measure, who include prominent civil rights and religious organizations, call some of the punishments meted out under three-strikes sentencing requirements "cruel and unusual." They argue that minorities have been disproportionally affected. And they say the state is spending tens of millions of dollars to incarcerate petty thieves and drug addicts who are no real threat to society. Under the law, second-strikers -- those with two serious or violent felonies on their record -- must serve 80% of their sentence before being considered for parole. A third conviction, or strike, for a less serious felony can trigger a sentence of 25 years to life. In California, 42,000 people are serving time under three strikes, nearly as many as in all other states combined. The study, conducted by an advocacy group that says it is committed to "ending society's reliance on incarceration," found that 57% of third-strikers had their 25-years-to-life sentences triggered by a nonviolent offense. A Field Poll taken last month found nearly seven in 10 likely California voters said they would vote to change the law, with the numbers for both Republicans and Democrats well above the threshold for passage. [more

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