System fails crime victims

After reading the opening statement of the March 26 editorial, “Decades of being tough on crime …,” I was wondering which segment of decades was being referred to. I’m also baffled about what part of the world the Legislature established tough sentencing guidelines for in 1984, since it certainly wasn’t in this state.

If one is referring to a “three strikes” law, that does not apply at all to property crimes, and only refers to certain violent class A and a few class B felonies.

I make a living in this business, and I am more aware than most of the absolute failure of the so-called justice system and its shortcomings toward victims of crime. The problem with the supervision mentioned is that many of the people I request criminal charges on are already under supervision while committing new crimes. The statement that felons are eventually released should suggest a longer incarceration time, not less.

The word limit does not allow me to properly expound on this subject, but when I have to explain over and over again to crime victims the realities of the system, it is discouraging for both them and me.

Dan Spivey

Spokane