Essay On Mandatory Sentences

Minimum Mandatory Sentences Minimum mandatory sentences have been established since the inception of our criminal justice system. However, these laws have gained much-needed attention as of late due to the ripple effect it has caused relating to the war on drugs. The war on drugs have been going on since the 1980s, but the use of these laws have created bigger problems in poor communities. These laws have hindered the progression of families and communities. Minimum mandatory sentences are not an effective tool in combatting the issue of controlled substances abuse and trafficking and should be repealed.
History of Minimum mandatory sentences Minimum mandatory penalties have been used since the enactment of the first federal penal laws in the 18th Century. The United States Constitution granted Congress the power to set the punishments for serious offenses, such as
These proposals resulted in the enactment of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970, which repealed almost all mandatory penalties for drug offenses (USSC.gov). However, with the surge of drug-related offenses in the 1980s came a shift in sentencing laws from rehabilitative to more punitive. These issues led to the enactment of The Anti-Drug Act of 1986. This Act established quantities for various drugs that triggered mandatory sentences that ranged from five years to life in prison. This Act had been the lead runner regarding the issue of drug offenses and the punitive measures taken against offenders. The Anti-Drug Act of 1986 used the quantity of drugs as a measure of the time a person should spend in prison. However, in 2010 the Fair Sentencing Act was enacted which repealed the mandatory minimum sentences for crack cocaine offenses (USSC.gov). This act also increased the quantity needed for certain mandatory sentences to be