THREE STRIKES

Between 1987 and 2007, the prison population in this country tripled. Much of that increase occurred in states that had adopted harsh punishments such as the three-strikes law and severe drug laws although they had already falling crime rates. According to the Pew Center on the States, spending from general funds on corrections increased from $10.6 billion to more than $44 billion which is a 127 percent increase. During the same period, spending on higher education only increased 21 percent.

Tight budgets seem to have mandated a slackening in these costly policies. Many states, hard hit by the recession, have come to realize that they simply do not have the money to keep people in prison who don’t need to be there. Washington incarcerates three-strikers for their entire lives without the possibility of parole ever. Some 72 percent of those serving this sentence were convicted of non-violent crimes. In our current economy, how can we afford this? In any economy, should we afford this?

Shirley White

Omak