Leave power of harsh sentencing to judge, not autopilot

WHILE STATES such as California are scrambling to reduce prison populations and spending, Massachusetts cannot afford to rush into a three-strikes regime (“Don’t rush ‘three strikes’ before getting all the facts on crime,’’ Editorial, Jan. 3). We should leave the power of harsh sentencing to the judges, not some automatic system that disregards the details of the offender, the wishes of the victims, or the evidence of rehabilitation.

We can be smart on crime by tackling drug addiction, fighting poverty, improving reentry services, and challenging a culture of violence. Beating our chests and promoting Draconian and unthinking laws only reveals the Legislature’s tendency for political pandering over sensible solutions. They did the right thing with criminal-records reform last year. Let’s not turn back the clock on our own progress.