I must respond to the many letters that Lowana Krewson from Stanwood writes about tough sentencing guidelines here in Washington state. Many times she writes about non-violent crimes, I totally disagree.
I would be willing to bet that there is no such thing as a non-violent crime. Because most criminal acts are connected to violent criminals in some way. One example a person who only uses a controlled substance. This person might never commits any other crime, yet automatically connects themselves to drug lords world wide. Please do not tell me theres no violence in that world. Or the car thief or burglar who violates the people they steal from. Ask any senior citizen whose home has been broken into while they winter in Arizona or the mom who just wants her car warm for the kids and comes out to find it gone. I believe they would have a different story to tell.
Tell the many people who have been cheated out of their life savings and suffer the effect of that the rest of their life about non-violent or white-collar crime.
Here is the reality there are rehab programs available, but you must be willing to change. The three strikes law adopted here is more than fair, If you cant do the time, dont do the crime.
Jay Hood
Arlington