e. few noticed that there was a 2 strike penalty included that doubled sentences for a second felony.
f. fewer noticed that the parole board rarely approved the release of lifers so the 25 year minimum sentence can continue for decades longer.
3. What are the results of the law:
b. cells built to hold a single prisoner is expanded to 2. Women rooms went from 4 to 8 prisoners.
c. cost of incarceration in California has passed $10 Billion per year. 10% of the state budget, more than higher education.
d. medical care became so bad the Federal government has taken it over.
e. virtually no rehabilitation exists ergo a 70 percent recidivism rate for prisoners who can be released.
f. family breakdown.
g. one county District of Attorneys office was rumored to have a contest for who could get a 3 strike conviction for the least offense.
h. The state is broke.
Politicians who promote the tough on crime legislation have passed 1,000 crime laws and enhancements in the last 30 years. The U.S. Supreme Court has members who state correctly that penalties have reached the point where we have sentences that are 5 to 7 times longer than the rest of the civilized world. The largest employer in California is the Department of Corrections, now over 60,000 very highly paid individuals. The lifers here are dependant upon a political board to obtain release. Politics is never a way to evaluate any person.
The law was supported by victims rights organizations some of which were financed by the guards union and even provided office space. The guards union also contributed large sums to promote the bill. Buyers remorse has set in, but those who benefit from the mistake fight tooth and nail to discredit any opposition to the draconian 3 Strikes law.
Bob Driscoll
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