Regarding the “three strikes” bill, my rep., Jeffrey Sánchez, voted in favor of this bill, thus abandoning his confreres in the state Black and Latino Legislative Caucus, the chief justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, common sense and me. Across the land for decades, mandatory sentencing has proved to be ineffectual and iniquitous to those most seriously affected. Its principal failure is its removal of the judge’s role in the proceedings. If the sentence is foreordained, where is the opportunity to temper justice with mercy? Mr. Sánchez knows too well that all felonies are not created equal. Vengeance and justice are not co-equals. As Gilbert and Sullivan said so well, “Let the punishment fit the crime!” He will live to rue this day.
Jack Osgood
Mission Hill