An appellate court in California ruled this week that three strikes offenders, those guilty of violent crimes, can get out of jail decades early, thanks to Prop 57. Michele Hanisee, President of the Association of Los Angeles Deputy District Attorneys, says the prop is exacting a high price in order to save money on jails.
”When you get rid of every law that punishes people for victimizing others that’s what you’re going to get is a lawless society. The sad part is, they’re allegedly doing it to save money on prison housing and they’re not even saving money. There’s been no substantial reduction in prison housing because, apparently, no one told our legislators about economies of scale.”
A ballot measure is in the works, but it won’t go on to the voters until 2020.
“Hopefully the Reducing Crime and Keeping California Safe Act would be a partial fix because, mind you, everyone serving a three strikes sentence is a violent offender, because strikes are violent crimes, but their present offense might not necessarily be defined as a violent under Prop 57. So, if we can redefine some of those as violent to make them ineligible for early release that might help some.”
She says it’s important to write to your senator and assemblyman and say you’re sick of the soft on crime approach.
Michele Hanisee was a guest on McIntyre in the Morning.
By Sandy Wells
KABC News