Two horrifying crimes have exposed serious in Connecticut's criminal justice system. But a "three strikes and you're out" law by Gov. M. Jodi Rell and Republicans in the Legislature would do more harm than good. Last July two recently paroled men broke into a home in Cheshire and tortured and three people. Last month a man who served more than eight years for assaulting a 5-year-old — and had been out on for less than a month — broke into a New Britain home. He accosted two women, wounding one and killing the other. Republicans, led by Ms. Rell, have responded by calling for a "three strikes" law. Democrats have rightly resisted. The proposed law, which would mandate life in prison for anyone of three violent felonies, is a bumper-sticker solution that would create by barring judges' discretion in sentencing. It would also not deter the many crimes by people who have not committed three violent felonies. Governor Rell and the Democrats do agree on the need for other reforms, including more re-entry programs and jobs training and better monitoring after prisoners are released on probation and parole. Connecticut has 2,500 parolees, but a 55,000 people on probation. Probation officers handle an average of 107 cases each —far too many. Connecticut's system for sharing crime information, which could keep some of the most dangerous offenders off the streets, is antiquated. It has neither inpatient treatment for sex offenders nor housing for them once they are released. Hundreds of inmates are on a waiting list for inpatient drug treatment. The suspect arrested in the New Britain case had been staying in a homeless at night but roaming freely during the day while waiting to begin sex offender treatment. Returning released inmates to society with so little support makes no sense.