Getting habitual criminals off of our streets under the Thee Strikes law has been a major step forward in controlling crime. I firmly believe that penalties for criminal acts must include full consideration of effects on victims.
Robbery is more than a loss of possessions.
It is an assault on the security that we must have to live in a truly free society. And murder must be understood and prosecuted as the irrevocable loss of a fellow human being along with their hopes, dreams, plans for the future, and all of the love and comfort that they may have contributed to others. So we must continue to promote justice with stiff penalties for criminal acts, and do more to provide timely prosecution so that justice delayed does not become justice denied for crime victims. To accomplish this, we also must provide the resources needed by law enforcement agencies to make the best use of new technology. In addition, our debates about crime and punishment too often ignore the lack of compassion and the lack of respect that must underlie a decision to harm someone else or to take what belongs to another.