1. in the summary section, what are mandatory minimums? How do mandatory minimums vary, according to crime (hint: drug laws)? Also, how has this jeopardized justice in limiting the authority that judges have in addressing criminal behavior? Please list the federal statutes, or drug laws passed by congress, in your answer. Lastly, what are some of the arguments against mandatory minimums? How have they been misused? Explain your answer.
2. What have been some arguments for reform? (advisory note: you may argue the costs, as well as mention the reform advice within your answer). Overall, how do you feel about mandatory minimums? Do you feel that they been effective in addressing what they were intended to address, or do judges need to be allowed to use their own discretion when it comes to sentencing criminals? Explain your answer
Several arguments have been raised to advance the cause for reforming mandatory minimums through repeals. This approach is a practical solution that does not cause the government to incur unnecessary costs. Mandatory minimums offend judicial independence by limiting judges’ discretion (Luna & Casswell, 2017). They also lead to disproportionate punishment as the sentences do not consider contextual information. In the same vein, they stretch federal resources by requiring offenders to spend a long time in jail, yet a lighter sentence could have achieved the same purpose.
