Consequences of Mandatory Minimum Prison Terms: A Summary of Recent Findings.

摘要

In recent years, evidence has accumulated indicating that the federal mandatory minimum sentencing statutes have not been effective for achieving the goals of the criminal justice system. There is substantial evidence that the mandatory minimums result every year in the lengthy incarceration of thousands of low-level offenders who could be effectively sentenced to shorter periods of time at an annual savings of several hundred million dollars, and that the mandatory minimums do not narrowly target violent criminals or major drug traffickers. The statutes have unintended consequences that compromise the basic fairness and integrity of the federal criminal justice system. Moreover, the benefits of mandatory minimums could be achieved at a lower cost and with fewer negative side effects through application of the federal Sentencing Guidelines.