Confounding matters further is the fact that as criminals age the likelihood of engaging in further crime decreases, with recidivism rates dropping dramatically for those over age 45. This leads to less money available for higher education, the best insu rance we have against crime. For the first time in history the state budget for corrections has just equaled that for higher education and will soon surpass it. Counties already strapped for revenues will be forced to curtail a variety of health and socia l services to meet their mandated obligations to Proposition 184. Additionally, the untold billions of dollars spent on Three-Strikes will not buy an ounce of prevention, a pound of deterrence, or a kilo of peace of mind.
Studies reveal no correlation between imprisonment rates and crime rates by states or nations.
Ca lifornia was already the world leader in number of citizens in its jails and prisons even before Proposition 184. Putting such materialistic and negative prognoses aside, we should work to modify this misguided law because it does an injustice to the nature of our collective human nature. At the core of what it used to mean to be an American citizen was concern, ca ring and compassion for our fellows. Those values are being eroded by the pernicious spread of spite, vengeance and dehumanization in our society today. If there is one thing that my long years of research and study have taught me, it is that social conditions that make people feel anonymous, depriving them of a sense of self worth, of individuality, will transform them into potential vandals, thieves an d murderers.