Herbert Alexander, until recently incarcerated as a “habitual offender,” invites Colorado legislators and legal experts to catalogue numerous systemic problems with three-strikes laws, including disproportionate impacts on minority communities, inequitable use by prosecutors, and exponential expenses to state government. He and co-hosts Seth Ready and Ryan Conarro interview Adriana Vance, who founded the advocacy organization Habitually Screwed & More following her husband’s conviction as a “habitual offender,” and who has herself been victimized by violent crime.

This episode features Kristen Nelson & Dan Meyer, Spero Justice Center; Colorado State Senator Julie Gonzales; Colorado State Representative Javier Mabrey; and Adriana Vance, Habitually Screwed, Inc.

HABITUAL is a production of Colorado Radio for Justice.

Executive Producers: Herbert Alexander and Ryan Conarro

Hosts and Producers: Herbert Alexander, Ryan Conarro, and Seth Ready

Lead Writer: Ryan Conarro

Editors: Ringo Joon, Lucy Richardson, Herbert Alexander, & Ryan Conarro

Music composition: Xavier Gauthier

Mastering Engineer: Tongjai Lee

Graphic design: Mayela Cardenas

Vocal Coach: Mare Trevathan

Production of HABITUAL was supported in part by Colorado Media Project, a funding collective fiscally sponsored by Rose Community Foundation. Special thanks to Spero Justice Center and to Chuck Murphy, Investigative Editor at Colorado Public Radio.

HABITUAL is an original documentary podcast. This series includes limited excerpts of third-party media, such as news reporting and archival materials, used solely for purposes of journalism, commentary, and public interest analysis. These excerpts are selected carefully, used sparingly, and presented with additional reporting, context, and critique.

Any such material is incorporated in a transformative manner and only to the extent necessary to support factual storytelling, including the examination of legal systems, media narratives, and the lived experience of those directly affected.

HABITUAL relies on fair use as defined under 17 U.S.C. § 107 of U.S. copyright law. All rights to third-party materials, including news and media content, remain with their respective owners.

This episode includes the following sources:

• 9 News, “5 Dead in Mass Shooting at LGBTQ+ Nightclub.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vv5ceDMWT4c

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https://www.radioforjustice.org/habitual

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