Proposition 36, or the Three Strikes Reform Act of 2012, was passed on November 6, 2012. This proposition reduced the punishment of certain third-strike offenses that are neither serious or nor violent, and provided for resentencing in some cases in which third-strike life sentences were imposed for felonies that were nonviolent.

In People v. Johnson, they addressed whether resentencing a defendant was based on the classification of the crime as serious or violent as of November 7, 2012, the day Proposition 36 was effective, or the law in effect when the offense was committed. Second,People v. Machado addresses whether an inmate who was convicted of both a serious or violent crime and a nonviolent felony is eligible for resentencing with regard to the felony that is nonviolent.

Both of these court cases were a groundbreaking for those sentenced under the California Three –Strikes laws. People v. Johnson held that the crime must be considered serious or violent based on laws of the effective date of Proposition 36.  People v. Machado held that an inmate is eligible for resentencing with respect to a current offense that is neither serious nor violent, even though they have another offense that is serious or violent.

If you or anyone you know was sentenced under the three strikes law in California, before the implementation of Proposition 36, make sure to check with an attorney because the defendants may be eligible for a sentence reduction under this new case law.

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