by TChris

Proponents of California's Proposition 66 -- a defeated ballot measure that would have reduced the harshness of California's "three strikes" law -- believe voters would have approved a less ambitious reform. (Background on the initiative is here.) Opponents of the measure succeeded in the usual way: by frightening voters.

"It worked -- the electorate was frightened to death,'' said Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, who worked to pass the proposition.

Supported by California's powerful prison guard union, opponents relied on dubious claims that "hardened criminals" would receive "get-out-of-jail-free passes." There may still be room for a fix to assure that no further "third strikes" are based on nonviolent offenses.

San Mateo County District Attorney James Fox, a vocal opponent of Prop. 66, said he believed there "was sentiment out there to make some corrections to three strikes to eliminate the possibility of prosecutorial indiscretion."

The opportunity for reform has not been irrevocably lost. Stay tuned.