Proposition 66
My take on Proposition 66 -
NO
This is part of my ongoing series of posts on
each of the Propositions we'll be voting on. Here is the
original post, with my ground rules for evaluating propositions, my
scorecard and links to each of my
arguments.
Proposition 66 - No
The three strikes law is one of the more effective laws we've passed in California. Before its passing, several people warned that we'd have to build countless new jails, and we wouldn't be able to afford to keep all the new criminals in jail. After its passing, we've seen crime rates drop and none of the things the hand-wringers warned us about have happened. The reason for this is simple - repeat criminals are responsible for lot of crime. If we lock them up for good, they can't commit more crime.
The common fear mongering response is that someone who committed two felonies earlier in life, who has now changed, might commit some non-serious crime and end up in jail for life. The problem is that research has been done on the years in which the 3 strikes law was in effect, and only about 4% of the third strikes were for a minor felony (as if there is such a thing as a "minor felony"). In addition, most of these cases were ones where the first two felonies were really horrific violent crimes. Also remember that the 3 strikes law gives both the prosecutor and the judge oversight as to whether or not the crime should be treated as a third strike.
Bottom line - 98% of us normal people in society will never commit a felony, ever. It's not too much to ask that if you have already committed two serious and violent felonies that you refrain from doing something stupid that will land you your third felony conviction.
More info: Why am I dead? has a rundown of examples of who will be released under Prop 66 - suffice it to say, its not pretty.
Proposition 66 - No
The three strikes law is one of the more effective laws we've passed in California. Before its passing, several people warned that we'd have to build countless new jails, and we wouldn't be able to afford to keep all the new criminals in jail. After its passing, we've seen crime rates drop and none of the things the hand-wringers warned us about have happened. The reason for this is simple - repeat criminals are responsible for lot of crime. If we lock them up for good, they can't commit more crime.
The common fear mongering response is that someone who committed two felonies earlier in life, who has now changed, might commit some non-serious crime and end up in jail for life. The problem is that research has been done on the years in which the 3 strikes law was in effect, and only about 4% of the third strikes were for a minor felony (as if there is such a thing as a "minor felony"). In addition, most of these cases were ones where the first two felonies were really horrific violent crimes. Also remember that the 3 strikes law gives both the prosecutor and the judge oversight as to whether or not the crime should be treated as a third strike.
Bottom line - 98% of us normal people in society will never commit a felony, ever. It's not too much to ask that if you have already committed two serious and violent felonies that you refrain from doing something stupid that will land you your third felony conviction.
More info: Why am I dead? has a rundown of examples of who will be released under Prop 66 - suffice it to say, its not pretty.
Posted: Sun - October 31, 2004 at 06:01 PM | | | | | | |
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Published On: Mar 22, 2005 08:27 PM
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