Letter to the Editor

The Three Strikes Laws were not written to conform to the intent of the voters. A "violent" crime for the first two strikes under present law can be a teenager taking a bicycle out of someone's open garage (which is a residential burglary), or setting fire to the trash in a trash can (arson). Then the third strike can be any felony, such as the possession of narcotics, or a third shoplifting conviction (a felony in California).

As a result, 64.5 percent of everyone serving a second or third strike in California is serving time for a non-violent offense. California has three times more people serving a third strike sentence of 25 years to life for marijuana offenses than for robbery, rape and murder combined. Each prisoner costs California taxpayers over $25,000 per year.

I'm voting for Proposition 66 to amend the Three Strikes Laws to their original intent. Our prison space should be reserved for those who commit violent crimes. After minimal jail time, non-violent offenders should be placed on a strict probation program, and required to get a job to compensate their victims.
— Bill Holmes