Wed., 1/18/12: Should the Gov. Strike Down "Three Strikes?"

Should the Gov. Strike Down "Three Strikes"?
In November, the Massachusetts legislature passed what's been dubbed "three strikes" legislation. The idea is to keep habitual offenders imprisoned for longer sentences, with no likelihood of early release and parole. Supporters say "three strikes" gives the state more leverage to come down hard on career criminals, but opponents say it's costly and that it unfairly affects people of color. Now, with the Senate and House bills in committee and heading to Governonr Deval Patrick's desk soon, we look into how this has played out in other states, and whether it's right for Massachusetts.

We want to get your take on "three strikes." Do you want to see this law passed? Would you feel safer? Do you think this would hit communities of color harder than others? Leave a comment on our Facebook page.

GUESTS: 
  Les Gosule, a supporter of "three strikes" legislation. In 1999, his daughter was murdered by a career criminal
  Marc Mauer, executive director of The Sentencing Project in Washington, D.C., former consultant to the Bureau of Justice Assistance and the National Institute of Justice.
  Bruce Tarr, State Senator from Gloucester, voted in favor of the Senate bill to institute a "three strikes and your in" policy in Massachusetts.
  Rev. George Walters-Sleyon, director of the Center for Church and Prison in Dorchester. The Center for Church and Prison will hold a public meeting on "three strikes" legislation on January 27th.