‘3 Strikes’ Costs Money but Pays Off

Two years ago this month, Gov. Pete Wilson signed into law one of the toughest anti-crime bills in U.S. history.

“Three strikes and you’re out” was the first law in the nation to mandate 25-year-to-life sentences for three-time felons. By depriving these recent offenders of a future life of crime, we have helped create a brighter future for law-abiding residents. This is reflected in statewide crime rates that have dropped in consecutive years for the first time since 1952. Some people would have you believe that law enforcement of this nature is too expensive. It cannot be denied that “three strikes” costs money, but the payoff for Californians will be enormous.

Already the number of parolees leaving our state is exceeding the number coming in for the first time in three decades. In Orange County, Santa Ana, Fullerton and Orange have double-digit decreases in crime. For the second year in a row, Huntington Beach is rated as the safest large city in America. The FBI’s latest crime statistics for cities over 100,000 in population list seven of the first 10 cities with the lowest crime rate as being in California.

Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren has stated that these positive numbers are the perfect answer to “three strikes” criticism. Strong anecdotal evidence exists that the risk of receiving a “third strike” has actually reduced the rate of recidivism in the ranks of released convicts. As these trends continue, California will become an increasingly safer place to live, while the costs associated with our criminal justice system will decrease. At the same time, “three strikes” saves money in other areas impacted by crime.

Significant savings will take place in the areas of property loss, medical expenses, law enforcement funding, insurance premiums and personal suffering as our crime rate drops. Putting a stop to crime with no-nonsense, tough laws such as “three strikes” costs much less than simply allowing crime to occur.

Unfortunately, those who oppose “three strikes” have pulled aside a few select cases to illustrate what they feel is the prosecution of small-time criminals under this law. Just because someone steals a pizza does not mean they are career criminals, but we must look at “three strikes” as a Lifetime Achievement Award.

In the case of Jerry Williams, who received a 25-year-to-life sentence after stealing some pizza from a group of youngsters, he had five felony convictions before he received his “third strike.” He qualified for this sentence long before his pizza conviction.

This law will indeed save lives and money. To ensure this, we must continue to support it and provisions such as new prisons that are needed to make it a complete success. With “Three Strikes” we have effectively put the fear of the law into the hearts and minds of our repeat offenders. In California you no longer get to walk--instead, it’s “Three strikes and you’re out!”