Three Strikes Law Ineffective in Curbing Drug Crimes August 20, 2002
News Summary
A new study shows that California's "three strikes and you're out" law has had no impact on reducing drug offenses, the Copley News Service reported Aug. 11.The study, conducted by a consortium of the Claremont colleges, found that the law has not reduced drug sales and possession because the demand for drugs is so high. As a result, when drug traffickers are jailed, new traffickers take their place on the streets.
"Apparently, when one drug offender is jailed, there is another, and perhaps more than just one other, ready to take his or her place," said William Crano, who led the study for the Claremont Graduate University. "Even imprisoning the most high-rate drug offenders for long periods of time does not appear to have affected the commission of such crimes."
However, the research showed that the three strikes law was effective in reducing the state's property crimes by 45 percent and violent crimes by 36 percent.
The study is the first to closely examine the impact of the three strikes law on drug crimes. Under the law, which was passed in 1994, crimes such as burglary, robbery, rape and murder are counted as "strikes." Those with one strike against them face double the sentence for a second felony conviction, while someone with two strikes faces a 25-years-to-life sentence for a third felony conviction.
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