VoteMatch
Mandatory "Three Strikes" Sentencing Laws
POSITIONS
- Strongly Support means you believe: 'Three Strikes' laws put dangerous repeat offenders where they belong - behind bars, for life. Mandatory sentencing and strict enforcement make sure that judges don't let off criminals too easily.
- Support means you believe: Keep 'Three Strikes' laws on the books because they seem to be effective, but consider ways to deal with special circumstances so we can avoid horror stories of inappropriate imprisonment.
- Oppose means you believe: Strict enforcement of pre-determined sentencing threatens civil rights and should be used cautiously. Police, courts and prisons should focus on effective enforcement rather than strict enforcement.
- Strongly Oppose means you believe: Judicial discretion should not be diminished by formulaic sentencing like 'Three Strikes.' Let judges and juries decide what penalties to apply in each case.
This question is looking for your views on whether stricter enforcement and mandatory sentencing is the solution to crime. However you answer the above question would be similar to your response to these statements:
- Stricter penalties reduce all crimes
- `Broken Windows' laws work
- Reduce judicial discretion
How do you decide between "Support" and "Strongly Support" when you agree with both the descriptions above? (Or between "Oppose" and "Strongly Oppose").
The strong positions are generally based on matters of PRINCIPLES where the regular support and oppose positions are based on PRACTICAL matters.
If you answer "No Opinion," this question is not counted in the VoteMatch answers for any candidate.
If you give a general answer of Support vs. Oppose, VoteMatch can more accurately match a candidate with your stand.
Don't worry so much about getting the strength of your answer exactly refined, or to think too hard about the exact wording of the question -- like candidates!
- Strongly Support means you believe in the principle of punishment as the purpose of incarceration.
- Support means you believe in practical reasons like reducing judicial discretion.
- Oppose means you believe in practical reforms like sentencing guidelines, but not mandatory ones.
- Strongly Oppose means you believe in the principle of rehabilitation as the purpose of incarceration.
BACKGROUND
The 1996 National Crime Victimization Survey found the lowest overall crime rate since the survey began in 1973.
Despite the falling crime rate, taking into account both violent crime and property crime, 83 percent of Americans can expect to be a victim of crime at least once in their lifetime.
‘Three Strikes’ Laws
‘Three Strikes’ laws mean that people convicted of a third felony receive a mandatory life sentence. Some candidates advocate ‘Two Strikes’ or ‘One Strike,’ which generally means more mandatory sentencing, less judicial discretion, and less chance of early parole.
‘Broken Windows’ Laws
‘Broken Windows’ laws mean that police focus on ‘quality of life’ issues as much as on crime itself. By addressing even minor crimes such as broken windows, according to this theory, a community is less likely to tolerate any crime, and overall crime rates should fall.
‘Community Policing’
‘Community Policing’ refers to a policy of crime prevention replacing incident response. It is often accompanied by a ‘broken windows’ policy, or by increased police presence on the streets.
Tort Reform
A ‘tort’ means a civil infraction as opposed to a criminal violation. ‘Tort reform’ includes capping lawsuit rewards; banning ‘frivolous lawsuits’; or some other change in civil lawsuit procedures.
Capital Punishment