In Washington, second-degree robbery has one of the lowest seriousness levels of any crime on the three-strikes list, hypothetically encompassing anything from demanding money from a clerk to snatching a purse. With the exception of third-strike crimes, Washington hands out sentences using a formula that takes into account the number and severity of a person's previous crimes. According to state guidelines, the maximum for second-degree robbery, given to the highest-level offenders, is less than seven years. By comparison, a life sentence under the state's three strikes law is exactly that: Life, without the chance of release. Despite its low seriousness classification, second-degree robbery can still be traumatic, said Rep. Brad Klippert, a Republican who is also a police officer and opposed the reform altogether.

Source: ABC News May 21, 2019 05:03 UTC