Three Strikes Promotion Like Selling Snake Oil
Three Strikes Promotion Like Selling Snake Oil
David Garrett’s promotion of the three strikes law is confusing and misleading, said Kim Workman, Director, Rethinking Crime and Punishment.
“Mr Garrett today claimed that the armed robbery committed by Charles Muir, sentenced today for 5 ½ years, would not have taken place had the 3 strikes law existed.”
“That is nonsense. Muir is only 28 years old, and for the armed robbery not to happen, would have had to have been served three previous sentences of at least five years each.”
“He’s already got over 100 previous sentences in a 12 year old criminal career. To have served three sentences of that length, he would have had to start his jail time from around the age of 13 or 14 years. My bet is that this is the first time he’s been sentenced to a term in excess of five years.”
“Anyone who has committed three offences of that severity can be adequately dealt with under the sentence of preventive detention.
“The public are entitled to good information. It’s time to stop selling public policy as though it was snake oil.”
ends