Pubdate: Mon, 07 Dec 1998
Date: 07/12/1998
Source: Orange County Register (CA)
Author: Trudy Dibble
Website: http://www.ocregister.com/

I am a registered Republican. I do not want child-molesters, murderers
or rapists walking our streets and that's what the "three-strikes" law
was supposed to be about ["Many studies are propaganda," Commentary,
June 28]. Instead, it is being used to send to prison for 25 years to
life people who should be sent to rehabilitation centers where they
can get the help they need to turn their lives around.

Would we really rather give them a bed and meals for 25 years to
life?

A better attempt to answer the crime problem would be to spend our
finances on the best doctors, counselors and occupational therapists
available for the best mandatory rehabilitation centers for crimes
that are drug or alcohol related.

A study is now being done on the "three strikes" law. Maybe if we act
intelligently, it will be used the way it was intended by the people

Trudy Dibble,
Orange