California’s New Three-Strikes Law
Benefits, Costs, and Alternatives
http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB4009/index1.html
(Early 1990s study of projected impact of proposed new California Three Strikes law)
Figure 3 — Distribution of California General-Fund Appropriations, FY94
Figure 4 — Budgetary Squeeze on Higher Education and Other Services, FY02
1994 2002
Rand also estimated that the new law would lower serious crime rates significantly
Cost – cuts in public services
Benefit – lower crime rates
October 2005
A Primer: Three Strikes - The Impact After More Than a Decade
(http://www.lao.ca.gov/2005/3_Strikes/3_strikes_102005.htm)
African American 37% White 26% Hispanic 33% Other 4%
California National
There is no evidence that the California “Three Strikes” law has had any impact at all on crime rates and this is particularly true of serious/violent crime.
In November 2004, voters rejected Prop 66 which would have modified the Strikes law.
The vote was close (47% voted Yes) ---- so there will likely be future attempts to modify the law.
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