Three-Strikes Law
Re your Aug. 24 editorial and “Three-Strikes Law Is Missing the Mark,” Commentary, Aug. 25: I was happy to finally see that people are realizing the three-strikes law is not putting away “violent criminals.” I am a 24-year-old white male facing 150 years to life for five counts of forgery and one count of petty theft. My strikes are from 1992 (when I was 17).
The district attorney on my case is refusing to strike a strike (that would give me less time) or plea-bargain, due to the seriousness of my case ($3,500 in forged checks). If California law thinks that $3,500 is worth giving someone 150 years, something is seriously wrong with our justice system.
More Californians need to be aware and support bills to make three strikes for violent or serious offenders only.
JOHNATHAN F. TAYLOR
L.A. County Jail
* I agree that the three-strikes law is wrong. It should be two strikes.
PAUL SCHOWALTER
Fullerton
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