Mandatory Sentencing For Non Violent Crime - 1050 Words

As far as alternatives go, there are several things that need to be addressed to improve and fix this overcrowded problem. There is no one reason for the overcrowding within the prison system and one has factored in all reasons that can lead up to the cause of overcrowding in order to find a solution to this tremendous issue. Mandatory Sentencing To begin, mandatory sentencing for non-violent and drug- related crimes should be eliminated. This law was established to dispose of the drugs masters and to reduce the selling of drugs in neighborhoods. However, this resulted in an adverse effect; with nonviolent drug and first time offenders getting brutal sentences expanding the prison population. Non-violent crime should be dealt with†¦show more content†¦As agreed by Prisons: Problems and Prospects Prisons and the War on Drugs, â€Å"incarceration rates for murderers, robbers, and burglars have remained steady over the years, but the number of drug offenders who have been imprisoned has steadily escalated†. The â€Å"war on drugs† has, for the most part, added to prison overcrowding. However, it has particularly extended the degree of minorities who are sent to prison. Further readings by Nathan James (2016), â€Å"mandatory minimum penalties have contributed to the growing federal prison population†. In addition, this report also added some alternative to this development problem, â€Å"Even if Congress chooses not to repeal any mandatory minimum sentences, policymakers could review current mandatory minimum penalties to ensure that they are (1) not excessively severe, (2) narrowly tailored to apply only to those offenders who warrant such punishment, and (3) applied consistently† (James, 2016). â€Å"(1) Today narcotics offenders occupy 61% of the beds in federal prisons. (2) Meanwhile, 1 in 7 state facilities continues to operate beyond capacity. (3) Ohio leads the pack with a stunning 182% of capacity† (Smolowe, 1994). There are a number of issues that added to development in the prison system. I. Mandatory Sentences II. More offenders being arrested for non-violent crimes III. Parole Practices The most effective method to diminish prison overcrowding I. Termination ofShow MoreRelatedThe Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Laws1613 Words   |  7 PagesCurrent mandatory minimum sentencing laws are in dire need of reform. A mandatory minimum sentence is a court decision where judicial discretion is limited by law. As a result, there are irrevocable prison terms of a specific length for people convicted of particular federal and state crimes. As of January 2014, more than 50 percent of inmates in federal prisons are serving time for drug offenses, and more than 60 percent of people incarcerated are racial and ethnic minorities. The use of safetyRead MoreMandatory Minimums And The United States Justice System1007 Words   |  5 Pagesprominent. Mandatory minimums are just one example the of injustice in our justice system. The Supreme Court has â€Å"†¦casted doubt on the constitutionality of the federal sentencing guidelines used for nearly two decades† (Kenneth Jost, 2004), despite this, nothing has been done to correct it . And while the idea of mandatory minimums is a good thing, they don’t work in the American justice system or in current American society. Mandatory minimum sentencing is the minimum time for certain crimes, usuallyRead MoreEssay about Negative Consequences of Mandatory Sentencing747 Words   |  3 PagesNegative Consequences of Mandatory Sentencing In recent years several mandatory sentencing laws have been put into motion. The original goals of the mandatory sentencing laws were to stop repeat offenders and to exhibit a get tough attitude on crime. These laws have not been working as intended, instead mandatory sentencing has led to some unfortunate consequences. Some of these consequences are overcrowding in prisons and less prison based rehabilitation. Mandatory sentencing laws do not narrowlyRead MoreThe War On Drugs And Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Laws1468 Words   |  6 PagesWhy are so many violent criminals walking free while so many non-violent offenders are locked up? Although various aspects have fueled this inequity of justice, the factors that have contributed the most to this development are, undoubtedly, the War on Drugs and mandatory minimum sentencing laws which have led to punishment disproportionate to the offense. 59% of rape cases and 36.2% of murder cases in the United States are never solved. In 2011, less than half of all violent crimes committed foundRead MoreThe Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Laws1528 Words   |  7 PagesCommon crimes in the judicial system include drug offenses, firearm offenses, and sexual assault, and the depending on the judge the repercussions could vary. To have unvaried penalties, mandatory minimum sentencing laws were enacted. These laws help keep citizens protected, while criminals are incarcerated. John Oliver, the host of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, talks about how mandatory minimum sentencing increases the number of criminals incarcerated, and he believes the length of their prisonRead MoreMandatory Sentencing For Minor Drug Offences957 Words   |  4 Pagesdollars later, we are still fighting this war (Branson). All that we have to show for this war is drugs running rampant and tons of citizens incarcerated. Mandatory sentencing for minor drug offen ces should be overturned due to overflowing prisons, damaging families, and the scare tactic it was created to be has failed. Due to mandatory sentencing for minor drug offences, the American prison system is overflowing with inmates. According to E. Ann Carson, a Statistician for the Bureau of Justice StatisticsRead MoreCriminal Justice Outline1660 Words   |  7 Pagesroles c. Sentencing – 3 types Sentencing a. Determinate- pros and cons b. Indeterminate- pros and cons c. Mandatory- pros and cons d. Specific or general deterrence Determinate sentencing a. Time- Each punishment is set person to person regardless b. Punishment- does not discriminate c. Community- deter people from committing it again Indeterminate Sentencing a. Courts and judges role in helping the offender b. Community outlooks c. Fines and minimums Mandatory sentencingRead MoreMandatory Minimum Sentencing On Violent Crimes Essay1492 Words   |  6 PagesJ’son West Nov. 12. 2016 CJ 202 Canon Mandatory Minimum Sentencing on Violent Crimes Crime in America is growing at a substantial rate and repeat offenders are playing a huge roll in this growth. Mandatory minimum sentences, first established in Connecticut in 1969 and expanded throughout the 1980s and 1990s, exemplify a shift in public policy to impose a specific amount of imprisonment based on the crime committed and the defendant’s criminal history, and away from other individual offender characteristicsRead MoreIs The Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Law?1593 Words   |  7 Pagesjustice system, this law is called the Mandatory Minimum Sentencing law. It has been around since the late 18th century, but did not start affecting drug possession until mid 20th century. Mandatory Minimums were initially designed to have a â€Å"cookie cutter† way to sentence violent offenders, but now has a role in sentencing drug offenders as well. Mandatory minimums have been wreaking havoc on the prison systems for years by giving first offense, non-violent, drug offenders outrageous sentences.Read MoreThe Flaws of Incarceration in America Essay1366 Words   |  6 Pagesfails to rehabilitate criminals or discourage crime. The ineffectiveness of the United States’ criminal justice system is caused by mass incarceration of non-violent offenders, racial profiling, and a high rate of recidivism. The majority of prisoners incarcerated in America are non-violent offenders. This is due mainly to mandatory minimum sentencing laws, which is a method of prosecution that gives offenders a set amount of prison time for a crime they commit if it falls under one of these laws