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| How do you measure the effectiveness of a law? | |||
| 1. Does the condition improve after its passage? | |||
| 2. Is it cost effective? | |||
| 3. Is it fair? | |||
| These are simple rules should be guidelines for judging the success or failure of laws. | |||
| #1 Does the condition improve? | |||
| The reduction in crime that occurred after the passage of 3-Strikes speaks for itself. | |||
| Any objective assessment would credit 3-Strikes with playing a major role in California's record crimes drops. | |||
| #2 Is it cost effective? | |||
| Is letting criminals out of prison cheaper than keeping them in? | |||
| While there are those who put forth the notion of great savings by releasing repeat offenders, it is worth remembering that, by definition, a repeat offender is in and out of prison on a repetitive basis. The real issue is whether or not there any savings as a result of letting repeat offenders out for short amounts of time? Is the cost of catching and reconvicting them more expensive than the small amount of time they are out? Do the crimes they commit while they are free outweigh the incarceration costs? | |||
| California paroles 125,000 inmates each year. Seventy one percent are back in within 18 months. The key to this equation is best seen in 2 million fewer victims and $28.5 billion dollars saved by reduced crime. This is a combination that saves lives and money. | |||
| #3 Is it fair? | |||
| Are some people getting life sentences for minor offenses? | |||
| In some cases, perhaps, but only if you are willing to overlook their criminal history and demonstrated intention to continue to break the law. Keep in mind all third strike cases require 2 prior serious or violent convictions. Each case requires a prosecutor to file the prior offenses. Upon conviction a judge reviews the prior offenses. Judges and/or prosecutors can and do strike prior offenses in order to reduce charges in cases they deem worthy. This sorts the wheat from the chaff and ensures a fair look at each case on its own merits. A third strike is 25 years to life, not life without parole. With good behavior credits it really means 20 years. | |||
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