Re: The article "Second chances vs. 'three strikes' law" on Oct. 26, the
article remonstrates judges who should be applauded for doing a good job in
managing taxpayers' money. Rather than bend toward political pressures, they
showed good judgment in not automatically spending $17 million of our tax
dollars (the cost of incarcerating the 34 featured offenders at $500,000 for
a minimum 20-year sentence).

Sure, there were costs to their decisions, but taking into account all the
alleged crimes the offenders committed (and even those they were not caught
for), it is difficult to imagine the value of the crimes committed (ranging
from vehicle theft to loitering) or to be committed by these 34 individuals
coming anywhere near $17 million.

What worries me are the judges and prosecutors who play the political games
and are willing to throw away the taxpayers' money.

Douglas W. Kieso

Irvine