EFFECTIVENESS OF 3 STRIKES LAW

Re "Three Strikes Law Has No Effect, Study Finds," March 2, and "Three
Strikes: Ineffective, Costly," editorial, March 7: Analyzing the study
conducted by the Justice Policy Institute, I find it to be flawed.
The three strikes law cannot be viewed in isolation.

There are many variables that would impact a statistical study of this
nature. Other factors such as increased crime prevention efforts,
more officers, more jails or more community involvement would
significantly affect the outcome of the study.

No effort was made to consider these and other variables. The study
also uses sweeping assumptions that have no basis or foundation. The
study, for instance, assumes that the age group most affected by the
law is 30 to 39. There is no logic to this assumption and no
explanation as to how this age group was selected. Statistics revealed
by the California Department of Justice last year show that there have
been dramatic drops in California's crime rates since three strikes.

BERNARD C. PARKS
Chief of Police, LAPD