Friday, March 12, 1999
Because of the recent five-year anniversary of California’s
Three Strikes law, critics have protested, charging that the
legislation is excessive and discriminatory, since a
disproportionate number of nonviolent criminals and minorities are
convicted of the "third strike." Supporters say Three Strikes is a
key reason behind dipping crime rates. What do you think about the
Three Strikes law?
"I think three strikes is a good thing. By the third time,
you’ve had your chances before. You know about the law. Especially
for major offenses, the law is a good thing. While there are
smaller cases, a felony is still a felony. It’s kind of hard to
draw the line."
Courtney Dawson
Second-year
Physiological science
"I think three strikes has been effective. People are more
careful about what they do. There are different levels of being a
criminal, but you’re still a criminal. I don’t think there’s
anything racist about the law. If you’ve already committed two
felonies – no matter what they are – you should know to be
careful."
Rhonda Dobison
Fourth-year
Economics
"I don’t think it’s a bad law because it will have some effect
on people who see that, by the third time, they’re really going to
get their punishment. Actually, if it were up to me, I’d make it
‘one-strike,’ but obviously there are always exceptions to the
rule. By the third time, though, no matter what kind of crime – big
or small – if you haven’t learned your lesson, you need to go to
jail."
Laleh Javanbakht
Third-year
Biology
"I think at its base, the law is a good idea. If the third
strike is a violent act, then it should be implemented. But there
are so many things that are felonies that don’t necessitate a life
sentence. So, the law needs to be massaged a little bit, but it’s
not a bad law."
Netaniel Livni
Fifth-year
Cybernetics
"I think the three-strikes law is a totally good law. It’s a
good way to keep criminals off the streets and to keep them from
thinking about doing something. For your first two strikes, you’re
punished, but they’re also warnings. Whether you’re a drug addict
or a violent criminal, you’ve got your chances."
Paul Pham
Fourth-year
Physiological science
"Three strikes should be repealed. It is a law born of
Puritanism. It’s the idea that the more harshly we enforce
something, the more it will deter people from doing things, which,
of course, isn’t true. I especially think three strikes is being
applied blindly and non-uniformly in California. The specific law
isn’t racist, but the system is racist. That’s why so many more
minorities are being convicted of a third strike."
Stephen Trentalange
Senior researcher
Physics