Mandatory Sentences     [Text-only version for printing]     [back to graphical version]
 The following guide provides Web site links, a list of selected books, and access to online periodical articles about this subject. The Web site links have been researched, evaluated, and annotated by Rio Hondo College Librarians. The Librarians have specifically selected these Web sites to meet the research needs of Rio Hondo College students

Web Site Links  

FACTS : Families to Amend California's Three-Strikes     http://www.facts1.com/
This Web site is sponsored by "Families to Amend California's Three-Strikes", an organization that hopes to amend the law so that it applies only to violent felonies.  The site is very current with recent news & updates and includes statistics and has detailed information on specific three strikes cases, both past and present.  An interesting look at those directly involved in this issue.

Families Against Mandatory Minimums     http://www.famm.org/
This organization challenges mandatory sentencing penalties.  Promotes sentencing policies that give judges the discretion to sentence defendants according to the severity of the crime and potential for rehabilitation.  Site keeps recent articles and reports about the issue.

Families to Amend California's Three-Strikes - Statistics     http://www.facts1.com/general/stats.htm
This site is all statistics on this subject, dating back to when the three-strikes law first passed to very recently.  It is quite comprehensive and covers just about all aspects of this issue.

Legislative Analyst's Office : Three Strikes Law     http://www.lao.ca.gov/scripts/query.idq?CiScope=/&CiMaxRecordsPerPage=10&TemplateName=query&CiSort=rank[d]&HTMLQueryForm=query.htm&CiRestriction=three+strikes+law
Excellent site authored by California State's Legislative Analyst's Office.  Features 37 documents on this issue, arranged in chronological order.  These links include many statistics, and demographic information about inmates.

The Three "Strikes and You're Out" Law     http://www.silicon-valley.com/3strikes.html
This California Law Observer site is presented by a California practicing attorney and provides the actual law as it appears in the California Penal Code.  It also gives a full description of what offenses qualify as punishable under the 3-strikes law.

Online Databases (Rio Hondo Students only)

Issue & Controversies @ Facts.com     http://www.2facts.com
Search this database for in depth information on mandatory sentencing.

Books    
 The following books can be located in the Rio Hondo College Library.

Reference Books (2nd floor)
Non-circulating:

Criminal justice : opposing viewpoints
Call number: Ref HV9950.C74324 2003

Taking sides. Clashing views in crime and criminology
Call number: Ref HV6789.T25 2006

Suggested Subject Headings
For additional titles on this topic at Rio Hondo, click on the following Library of Congress subject headings:

Corrections--United States

Mandatory sentences

Prison sentences--California

Media  
The following media can be located in the Rio Hondo College Library, to be viewed in the Library.

Crime & punishment in America
 Call number: Video 000533
Brings historical perspective to the problems of escalating crime and the public's fear of it, by exploring the evolution of crime and criminal penalties in American society.

Articles
The Rio Hondo College Library provides online access to full-text articles through our online databases http://library.riohondo.edu/online_databases/index.htm.  Please note:  you must be a Rio Hondo College student, faculty, staff or board member to use these services.

The 3 sample searches below are from the ProQuest database.  Use Advanced Search and type each tern in a separate box:

    1.  ("three strikes")
    2.  SUB(habitual offenders) AND SUB(criminal sentences)
    3.  SUB(race) OR (ethnicity) AND SUB(criminal justice)

Researched and evaluated by:
E. Ball, Librarian 3/2003
last update: D. Banton, Librarian 10/2007

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