Does Three Strikes and Other Tough Approaches Work?.
The article, "Does Three Strikes and Other Tough Approaches Work?" found in Taking Sides: Controversial Issues in Crime and Criminology, has to do with the controversial concept of using the "three strikes and you"re out" law and other tough approaches. Some argue that these practices are forms of cruel and unusual punishments, but others find them to be ideal for keeping felons off of the streets. Eugene H. Methvin and Davis Shichor are two scholars who speak out about their opposing outlooks on this controversy.
Eugene H. Methvin, senior editor for Reader's Digest, believes that tough approaches do work. Methvin thinks children should be given early childhood intervention classes at an early age. When children and parents were given prevention classes, the children were less likely to be involved in criminal activity than the ones who did not have training. If the children can be rehabilitated early, their chances of a decent life are extremely high. Training should start as early as possible because some children start engaging in criminal behavior as early as 7 years of age. Methvin states that psychopaths are accountable for more than half of all serious crimes. The Hare Psychopathy Check List [PCL] is a reliable instrument for diagnosing psychopathy. So many criminals are psychopaths and it is not known, so they are being released from prison. If every prisoner could be given a PCL test, then these psychopaths could be placed in higher security institutions or not released as early. .
Methvin noted that placing police in high crime areas will definitely deter crime. As shown in the article, what happened to the New York City subway system was a perfect example of reducing crime. Crimes were being committed so frequently that the number of train commuters dropped dramatically. Plainclothed officers were sent in to catch anybody committing even the slightest offense.
