For Immediate Release: March 31, 2010
Contact: Tara Lawrence - 503.364.3909 or 541.300.1212
Oregon Anti-Crime Alliance Calls on League of Women Voters to Rethink Their Question to Oregon Candidates on Measure 11
Salem - In a letter dated March 30, 2010, from the Oregon Anti-Crime Alliance to the Oregon League of Women Voters, Tara Lawrence, the Executive Director for the Oregon Anti-Crime Alliance called upon the League to improve its understanding of Measure 11 sentencing laws.
By way of history, Measure 11 provides mandatory minimum prison sentences for the most violent person crimes and sexual assaults. In 1994, the people of Oregon passed Measure 11 by an overwhelming 66% of the vote. In 2000, Oregon voters showed their continued support by voting against an attempted repeal of Measure 11 by a margin of 74%. The voters knew what they were doing, and our organization is dedicated to ensuring that the Measure 11 myths are dismantled by the truth.
In a candidate questionnaire recently sent out to Oregon legislative candidates across the state, the LWV asks candidates the following question: “Can Oregon continue to afford the long sentences required for Measure 11 and other crimes, or are there more effective ways to handle convicted criminals?”
Specifically, the question refers to Measure 11 sentences as “long.” The question fails to state by what standard the LWV considers Measure 11 sentences to be “long.” Compared to other states, Measure 11 sentences are average to below average. Data kept by the United States Bureau of Justice Statistics demonstrates this fact clearly.
The truth is Measure 11 applies only to violent person crimes and sexual assault crimes. The most common Measure 11 crimes are the most violent forms of assault and Sexual Abuse in the first degree. Except for homicide, the most serious Measure 11 crime is rape in the first degree, which provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 8 years and 4 months. The longest Measure 11 sentence is a mandatory minimum prison term of 25 years and applies to crimes such as intentional murder or raping a child under the age of 12.
The Oregon Anti-Crime Alliance, Oregon’s leading crime fighting group lead by former Sherman County District Attorney Tara Lawrence offered to meet with the League of Women Voters to explain why their group should support Measure 11 and other sentencing laws specifically affecting women who are victims of sexual crimes and violent crimes. In addition to the requested meeting, Ms. Lawrence forwarded the Alliance’s document entitled “Oregon’s Measure 11: Truth vs. Myth,” which can be found at www.oaaoregon.com.
“It’s startling and disconcerting to me, as an advocate for victims of crime, that the LWV apparently misunderstands Measure 11 and the measure’s legitimate purpose which is captured in the Oregon Constitution. Our Constitution requires laws for the punishment of crime to be founded on protection of society, personal responsibility, accountability for one’s own actions, and reformation,” Lawrence said.
Watch the video below to hear OAA Executive Director, Tara Lawrence's response to LWV's statement.
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