Stop Three Strikes in Massachusetts

The eighth amendment of the constitution prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. The three strikes law violates the 8th amendment, is counter-productive and ineffective.

Massachusetts state legislators want to show how tough they are on reducing crime and they don’t care how many lives they will ruin. Many of the prisoners sent to jail under three-strike laws are non-violent such as petty theft or drug dealing, for trying to cash a forged cheque. The law should put felonies with serious crimes behind bars for life, not the shoplifters. The law should take into consideration the severity of the crime. The three strikes will definitely and disproportionately affected blacks and Hispanics and may lead to increased violence plus the policy of a life s sentence is not going to stop people who are acting impulsively. Most repeat offenders will never see the outside of the prison walls. If a crime is committed, then yes, there should be punishment.

We, tax payers will have to pay for the bill because it will create a huge, geriatric prison population that would hugely costly. We should have new approaches to tackle the problem of crime such as restorative justice techniques, education, and rehabilitation. But instead, our political leaders want to pass this needless and ineffective law. Yet there is no proof that this three strikes law will decrease crime. We don't need it. We don't want it.

We do want and seriously need some balance in our justice system. Please sign a petition to stop the three-strike law in Massachusetts. I'm very confident that we're going to win it! Thank you!