Earlier this week, KUAM News spoke with criminal justice students from the University of Guam ahead of their capstone project – a forum to discuss Guam’s Three Strikes Law, which mandates life imprisonment without parole for anyone convicted of three felony offenses. And today, legal professionals and law enforcement leaders finally weighed in.

The law is designed to deter repeat offenders of major felonies, but many raise concerns about proportional sentencing, prison overcrowding, and the possibility of second chances.

Guam Police Chief Stephen Ignacio says there must be a balance between accountability and rehabilitation. He added, “When we’re dealing with violent, felony criminal offenders, yes – they need to be confined, they need to be incarcerated, and yes, if they need to, they need to spend the rest of their lives in jail.”

But with recent violent cases in Tumon and Tamuning linked to repeat offenders already facing drug charges, Attorney General Douglas Moylan questioned the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs. Senator Therese Terlaje says she supports the law, while also stressing the importance of prevention – ensuring social workers, education, and job training are in place to keep people from turning to crime.

“It’s very harsh, but these are violent felonies, they’re listed as aggravated murder, murder and manslaughter, aggravated assault, kidnapping, criminal sexual conduct in the first and second degree," she stated.

Public Defender Stephen Hattori urged compassion, pointing out that some offenders were once victims themselves, and asks whether society has an obligation to help them before they hurt others.

As Guam continues to confront crime and re-offense, the debate over “three strikes” may come down to a single question: what does justice look like in a community striving for both safety and redemption?