I have never been a fan of the “Three strikes” laws that send people to jail after three convictions of crimes of varying severity. The prisons are already overcrowded and we have too many people behind bars. However, how many strikes are too many? Ismaaiyl Brinsley according to varying news reports had between 15 and 19 arrests over the past few years. I am not sure how many had convictions but it was reported that he had also done some time so at least some of them led to convictions. What are we to do with career criminals like him? Psychiatric help? More prison time?
I also read that he had medical issues. I don’t believe that gives one license to steal, rob, threaten or kill. I suspect that he would have continued on this path for the rest of his life unless society or the authorities had stepped in and found a way to stop it. Unfortunately, they didn’t. What is the solution in cases like this?