Mark Takano on Crime

Mandatory life sentences and truth-in-sentencing

Takano supports the following principles to address the problem of crime:
• Impose "truth in sentencing" legislation for violent criminals so they serve a full sentence with no chance of parole.
• Create "boot camps" for juvenile and adult first-time offenders.
• Prosecute as adults youths who are third-time violent felons.
• Impose mandatory life sentences for third time violent felons.
• Fund programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills.
• Increase the availability of college loans for youth in crime-ridden urban areas.
• Fund programs which provide job training and employment opportunities for at-risk urban youth.

Rated 85% by the NAPO, indicating a tough-on-crime stance.

Ratings by the National Association of Police Organizations indicate support or opposition to issues of importance to police and crime. The organization's self-description: "The National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) is a coalition of police units and associations from across the United States. NAPO was organized for the purpose of advancing the interests of America's law enforcement officers through legislative advocacy, political action, and education.

"Increasingly, the rights and interests of law enforcement officers have been the subject of legislative, executive, and judicial action in the nation’s capital. NAPO works to influence the course of national affairs where law enforcement interests are concerned. The following list includes examples of NAPO’s accomplishments:

• Enactment of the Fair Sentencing Act
• Enactment of the National AMBER Alert Act
• Enactment of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act
• Enactment of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act
• Enactment of the Law Enforcement Officers' Safety Act (Right to Carry Legislation)

VoteMatch scoring for the NAPO ratings is as follows:

• 0%-50%: soft on crime and police issues;
• 50%-75%: mixed record on crime and police issues;
• 75%-100%: tough on crime and police issues.