'Three strikes' life in prison law changed by Legislature

State Rep. Eric Pettigrew, D-Seattle: "Black people receive life sentences under the 'three strikes' law at a rate seven times higher than our portion of the population." State Rep. Eric Pettigrew, D-Seattle: "Black people receive life sentences under the 'three strikes' law at a rate seven times higher than our portion of the population." Photo: Elaine Thompson Photo: Elaine Thompson Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close 'Three strikes' life in prison law changed by Legislature 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

Individuals will no longer receive life prison sentences under Washington's "three strikes" law, thanks to a bill passed by the Washington Legislature and sent to Gov. Jay Inslee for signature.

The final step was House passage by a largely party line 53-45 vote late on Tuesday, culminating a long drive to reform the law. Washington in 1993 became the first state to enact a law sending third-time offenders to the slammer for life.

The legislation earlier cleared the State Senate on a 29-20 vote.

"Black people receive life sentences under the three strikes law at a rate seven times higher than our portion of the population," argued State Rep. Eric Pettigrew, D-Seattle, in supporting the legislation.

RELATED: Connelly: Preserving a pearl of a view -- Oyster Dome on Blanchard Mountain is saved

African Americans are 4% of the state's population, but have accounted for 40% of those convicted under the three strikes law.

The law "destroys families and communities by disproportionately locking up black men for life," Pettigrew argued.

The co-author and chief advocate for the law has been conservative radio talk show host John Carlson.

"Washington's three strikes law doesn't target race -- it targets conduct," Carlson said in an essay when the issue first came up nearly two decades ago.

In opposing the bill in the Legislature, Carlson wrote recently in the Seattle Times: "Why work at redemption if the Legislature simply opens the prison door for you."

The 1993 law provides only one "out" for those serving life terms, a grant of clemency from the Governor. The issue came up in the case of Paul Rivers, the first man sent up under the law, on a conviction for robbing $337 from an espresso stand.

A second degree robbery is a crime committed with an accomplice, or in which a weapon is threatened but not used. It is a Class B felony in which sentences vary with the maximum being up to 10 years.

RELATED: Connelly: House OK's stepped up traffic camera enforcement in Seattle

"The three strikes initiative promised to put away the 'worst of the worst' but it instead deepened the inequities in our corrections system: The resulting mass incarceration disproportionately impacted and severely damaged people of color," said State Sen. Jeannie Darnell, chief sponsor of the Senate bill.

"During the 'tough on crime' era, our justice system became excessively punitive and we have filled our prisons on the misguided belief that harsh punishment is an effective treatment of criminal activity."

Sen. Keith Wagoner, R-Sedro Woolley, took a different position during Senate debate, saying: "This is one more example of where we're holding convicted citizens less and less accountable."

The Republicans did amend the bill to remove a retroactive clause that would have reduced sentences of some inmates serving time for a third-strike robbery. The bill applies to future convictions.