As many aspects of the Three Strikes Law have been evaluated looking at negative and positive effects to the community, officers, offenders, and victims and their families, the main reason for the enactment of the law has not yet been elaborated on. There are many career offenders whose violent actions have permitted a majority of American’s to vote and continue voting for the Three Strikes Law to stay active, regardless of the cost and downfalls it presents to society. The previous blogs have presented a plethora of different perspectives, idea’s, and views for the different pro’s and con’s of this law. Despite the various points of views, ultimately the people have voted to continue implementing this law in the courtroom, and here are a few cases that hold a strong connection to those in any community and resonate deeply with many individuals.
Cases that invariably present this emotional link to citizens include offenders who commit heinous crimes, and do not spend a long time in prison. The first enactment of the Three Strikes held a 72% vote in favor of the law, which is a significant number (Driscoll, 2003). Prior to the Three Strikes Law being created, this occurred quite a bit, which was why there was such a big push for this mandatory sentence law by the public. One such case was the case of Kenneth Parnell, who committed repeated predatory crimes against children. He kidnapped a nine-year old boy in 1951 and sodomized him. In 1960 he robbed a bank with a revolver. Then in 1972, he kidnapped another boy at the age of eight and held him hostage as his son for seven years. In 1980, he kidnapped another boy, and not until a month later did the boys escape and go to the police department. Parnell only received five years in prison for these crimes he committed. Finally, after the Three Strikes was enacted, Parnell was caught in a police sting operation trying to purchase a four-year-old boy for $400.00 dollars (Clair, 2000). Because of this law, instead of receiving a three-year sentence and being released back into public to offend again, Parnell was finally convicted to 25-years in prison. The mere idea that a man kidnapped two children for over seven years would only serve three years is unspeakable. This case is like many others, where individuals escape through the claws of the law despite the lengthy and repulsive criminal history and prior harm caused to many victims and families.
Another such case that appeals to the emotions of everyday citizens is that of John Bunyard. Bunyard was convicted of 10 felonies over a 20-year time span. These felonies included the murders of two women, and rapes, assaults, and kidnappings of many others. Individuals like him are bound to continue to commit crimes of that magnitude because all they know is a life of crime, and they typically have a desire to continue despite the consequences presented if they get caught. After Bunyard was convicted to 19 years in prison for the many crimes he was convicted of, he was released and was convicted in 1992 for possessing a billy club, a crime in which he could have been sentenced to 25 years in prison due to the Three Strikes Law. However, he was placed on probation. Unfortunately, a few years later, Bunyard solicited a 14-year-old girl and offered her money to look at her provocatively (Otero&LaBahn, 2004). He was finally sentenced to a 25-year imprisonment sentence after the lewd and lascivious act he committed on the underage female. Sex crimes and crimes against children are generally looked at as very negative and grotesque actions, and many people are disgusted by individuals who have the desire to commit these acts.
In the case above, there was a significant amount of discretion used in the case, even with the incredible amount of criminal history, the judge still decided to only give probation to Bunyard. In some regards, that was a respectable decision because of the lack of seriousness in the charges compared to the other charges rendered to him. There were no victims, and even though he was not supposed to own a weapon of any sort, probation appeared to be a good punishment. However, because of the nature of this individual, Bunyard committed another crime against a child, and wasted the second chance he was given. The Three Strikes law came into action, as some may argue it should have been used in Bunyards prior run in with the law involving the Billyclub. These are two examples of direct court cases that encourage the application of the Three Strikes Law within the community and its members.
Although this series of blogs discusses a variety of issues that affect the criminal justice system, employees in it, citizens, victims, offenders, and the latter, these two criminal cases, along with many others create a strong foundation for the law. These negative unintended consequences of the law include an increase in officer/victim homicides, low but statistically significant, an influx in the prison population and a parallel increase in the cost of prison spent by the state, an uncertain deterrent effect, and a mandatory and extensive sentencing for minor crimes if two felonies have been convicted. However, because of the strong basis and foundation the Three Strikes Law holds due to its high morality and ethical strong points of developing citizens safety, it is viewed as a very important part to the court systems and society. These two cases exploit the necessity our communities have for tough-on-crime laws such as the Three Strikes Law.
Clair, Katy (2000). Inside the monster. East Bay Express. Retrieved on November 30,
2011. Retrieved at: http://www.eastbayexpress.com/ebx/inside-the-monster/Content?oid=1069138
Driscol, W. (2011). Three strikes- should so-called three strikes be repealed?
International Debate Education Association. Retreived from www.idebate.org
Otero, G & LaBahn, D. (2004). Prosecutors’ perspective on California’s three strike law-
a 10-year retrospective. California District Attorneys Association. 1-62.
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