It is truly about time

The Los Angeles Times reports that the state of Washington is

revisiting cases involving life without parole for non-violent crimes.

Many of these are multiple time offenders who did not use

weapons or commit serious injury but because of the
multiple offenses fell under the three strikes laws.

"In May, Gov. Chris Gregoire signed Dozier's appeal for

clemency, making him the first three-strikes lifer in

the nation to be pardoned. He had served 15 years and
his last offense involved purse-snatching. The article is

about his release.

The state's Pardons and Clemency Board in June recommended

freeing Al-Kareem Shadeed, 39, and Michael Bridges, 47, who

both had been sentenced to life without parole in the mid-1990s

for stealing wallets.

There is no question in my mind that those who recidivate

multiple times need long term punishment, but life without

parole seems excessive and much too costly for the public.

Life Without Parole should be limited to specific capital offenses

or to those who commit violent offenses multiple times, especially

if the victim is a child or an elderly person.

Corrections is taking too large a bite out of limited state resources and in
many cases is not having positive results.