Three-Strikes Law: Blessing or Curse?

California’s three-strikes law is a bludgeon that needs to be replaced with a scalpel. Edward J. Erler and Brian P. Janiskee fail to discuss the shortcomings of the law in their Sept. 28 commentary, “Three-Strikes Law Hits Its Target.” It costs California taxpayers about $30,000 per year to imprison a felony offender. It is ludicrous to pay that cost to house aging, nonviolent three-strikers while we reduce the budget for our schools. Proposition 66 will leave beneficial aspects of the law in place while freeing up funds to educate our children.

Jerry Wallingford

San Diego

*

When we voted 10 years ago for the three-strikes law, I don’t remember being informed that it would apply to petty offenses such as taking a pizza or being with someone who had shoplifted. I am appalled that the law is being implemented in this way. Not only are many young lives being destroyed by this interpretation, but millions of taxpayer dollars are being spent to incarcerate people who could have matured into responsible citizens. Proposition 66 requires that the third strike be a violent or serious offense.

Dorothy L. Guilford

Monterey Park

*

There is something wrong with a society that allows the perpetrators of multiple violent crimes to live in freedom. Many would argue that everybody deserves a second chance, even those who have committed heinous crimes. But a third chance to wreak havoc on society? Where’s the equity in that? It’s an affront to law-abiding citizens and future victims. Let’s make it a moot point as to whether or not the third strike should be a violent crime. Two strikes is plenty.

Gary Osheroff

Pasadena

*

Erler and Janiskee make a good case for the three-strikes law being highly responsible for the dramatic reduction in crime in California. In addition to keeping career criminals in prison, there may be an exodus of two-strike criminals out of California, which may be in the hundreds or thousands, but there are no statistics. A criminal with two strikes may have had dozens of undetected crimes. In the long run, California has obviously benefited from the three-strikes law, and to pass Proposition 66 would be a great mistake

Bob Kerber

Oceanside