If "three strikes and you're out" is a reasonable step, why isn't "two strikes and you don't get out early"? Donna Ellis says, reasonably, that if Charles Boney had not been released from prison early after he was sentenced for robbing her, his second conviction, he would not have been avaiable to take part in the slayings of a woman and her two children. Boney's lawyer is not so reasonable:
Pat Renn, who represented Boney in his two-week trial in January, said he understands Ennis' feelings as a victim but said it would be poor public policy to prevent early releases for those convicted more than once.
"It doesn't give any incentive to change behavior," Renn said.
Well, yes it does. If you know you'll have to do the full amount of time for a second offense, maybe you'll stop after the first one. Defense lawyers seem to think carrots are the only way to change behavior. Sticks work, too.
Comments
And the smaller the carrot (and the larger the stick)...the better, IMHO.
Long time residents of the "slammer" wind up with more *perks* than those near or below poverty level in our cities (and a lot of THOSE people stay OUT of the hoosegow)...where's the fairness there?
B.G.
Agreed, that is why we have so much crime, punishment is not harsh enough. I don't think there should be early release on violent crimes even for first offense. Then crime would go down.