Three Strike Law: America’s Debate
Many citizens of the United States are growing increasingly alarmed by the escalation of crime that is occurring throughout the country. These fears are justified because current statistics reveal that the crime in the United States is unacceptably high and the rates are steadily increasing. As a result, nation-wide attention is focused on the three strike law. The law AB 971, more commonly known as the three strike law, was passed in the state of California on March 7, 1994, when Governor Pete Wilson signed it into law. The three strike law has had many intended and unintended consequences. On one hand, individuals who break the law are being increasingly held accountable for their crimes. While on the other hand, the prison population has vastly grown, and already overcrowded prison facilities are being stretched beyond their capacity. The operation and maintenance of prison facilities is a very expensive undertaking, which adversely affects the taxpayers, by burdening them with these undue financial responsibilities to fund the prisons. In 2009, statistics show that it costs an average of $47,000 per year to incarcerate an inmate in the California prison system (“Criminal Justice” n.p.). The three strike law is not an effective crime …show more content…
The U.S. government did not necessarily look at the unintended consequences that may arise as a result to the three strike law. Statistics show that since the three strike law was enacted, homicide rates have actually increased. Homicide crimes have increased by 10-12 percent (short term) and 23-29 percent (long term) in almost all twenty-four states where the three strike law is an effect (Kovandzic, Sloan, Vieraitis 402). Other heinous crimes such as rape, robbery, assault, burglary, larceny, and auto-theft did not increase. Surprisingly, the percentages of these crimes were declining throughout the
Many citizens of the United States are growing increasingly alarmed by the escalation of crime that is occurring throughout the country. These fears are justified because current statistics reveal that the crime in the United States is unacceptably high and the rates are steadily increasing. As a result, nation-wide attention is focused on the three strike law. The law AB 971, more commonly known as the three strike law, was passed in the state of California on March 7, 1994, when Governor Pete Wilson signed it into law. The three strike law has had many intended and unintended consequences. On one hand, individuals who break the law are being increasingly held accountable for their crimes. While on the other hand, the prison population has vastly grown, and already overcrowded prison facilities are being stretched beyond their capacity. The operation and maintenance of prison facilities is a very expensive undertaking, which adversely affects the taxpayers, by burdening them with these undue financial responsibilities to fund the prisons. In 2009, statistics show that it costs an average of $47,000 per year to incarcerate an inmate in the California prison system (“Criminal Justice” n.p.). The three strike law is not an effective crime …show more content…
The U.S. government did not necessarily look at the unintended consequences that may arise as a result to the three strike law. Statistics show that since the three strike law was enacted, homicide rates have actually increased. Homicide crimes have increased by 10-12 percent (short term) and 23-29 percent (long term) in almost all twenty-four states where the three strike law is an effect (Kovandzic, Sloan, Vieraitis 402). Other heinous crimes such as rape, robbery, assault, burglary, larceny, and auto-theft did not increase. Surprisingly, the percentages of these crimes were declining throughout the