‘3 Strikes’ Savings

* Re “ ‘3 Strikes’ Law Saves Money, Study Contends,” May 8:

I seem to recall that much was made that the “three strikes” bill was going to increase the costs to the state. According to the Pacific Research Institute of Public Policy, “Every $1 spent to keep California criminals behind bars saves taxpayers as much as $2.80.”

Was I one of the few who realized that longer terms for repeat offenders would keep them off the street, reduce the costs to citizens that were victimized, reduce the costs of police time to catch them, reduce court costs to keep trying these people in a revolving door of expensive litigation and plea-bargaining and eventually cut into lawyers’ fees for repeatedly defending these people?

BARRY LEVY

Redondo Beach