It’s a final project with a purpose: University of Guam students are hosting a forum to bring together lawmakers, law enforcement, and the community to explore the impact and controversies surrounding the island’s “Three Strikes” law. How do we balance crime, punishment, public safety, and second chances in Guam’s justice system? That’s the question being asked by the Fall 2025 criminal justice capstone team at UOG. 

Their one-day forum  titled “Guam’s Three Strikes Law,” is their final project before graduating this December. Criminal justice students Alana Ungacta, Justin Delos Santos, and Francis Sunga say they want to encourage the community to take a deeper look at a law that has been on the books since 2013. The “Three Strikes” law requires a mandatory life sentence for anyone convicted of a third violent or aggravated felony – with no parole, probation, or early release.

Delos Santos clarifying the law was meant to address repeat offenders and deter violent crime, saying, “Mostly felonies, drug felonies maybe, and violent crimes. If we were to target all repeat offenses, regardless of what level, we might face a [bigger] overcrowding issue than we already are.”

However, it’s also raised questions about fairness, constitutionality, and impact on rehabilitation. Panelists at Wednesday’s forum include Attorney General Douglas Moylan, Senator Therese Terlaje, Police Chief Stephen Ignacio, Major Antone Aguon from the Department of Corrections, Public Defender Stephen Hattori, and Judge Jonathan Quan.

Sunga hopes bringing together all sides – from lawmakers to law enforcers – can spark conversation that leads to action. Ungacta also prompts the community to think about what fairness truly means under this law – and whether the system is striking the right balance, saying, “They had that chance before they got to the third strike to rethink. ‘Am I going to do this again?’”

Sunga adds that giving victims of repeat offenses justice and providing relief to a system that’s fatigued by seeing the same offenders return is a significant point not to be overlooked. “We’re not just trying to lock up people that allegedly committed three felonies. You still have to go through the justice system," he said.

For the entire capstone team, the goal isn’t to take sides — but to open doors for a community dialogue that’s long overdue.

“I think that, seeing as it is a public law, anytime a law is passed it’s usually enforced. So, I think the goal of our forum with our six panelists is to open the discussion and see what the issue is. Is it on the court side? The legislature side? DOC side?” said Ungacta.

The “Three Strikes Law Forum” takes place this Wednesday, November 12, at the UOG Lecture Hall from 10am to 1pm. The event is open to the public and will also be livestreamed on the team’s Instagram profile.