Shayla Staggers

Dr. Wynne

Written Communications II

21 April 2017

Minimizing Mandatory Minimums

By: Shayla Staggers

Mass incarceration serves as an obstruction to the development of society. The alteration

of non-violent crime sentencing should be implemented to reduce incarceration rates in the

United States. Imprisonment was at first actualized to decrease crime rates, enhance the

wellbeing of Americans, and authorize criminal discipline. However, this system has evolved

into a notion which enforces cruel and unusual punishment, and does not serve as a catalyst for

the betterment of society. In order to better America, policy change in Mandatory Minimums

needs to be adjusted significantly.

 Jenifer Lockwood, a 31 year old mother of 2 faces 15 years in the Florida prison system

for drug charges. Having no criminal history Lockwood struggled with addiction following a

series of surgeries related to endometriosis. According to Rolling Stone, Using her position as a

nurse she paid for a one-month prescription of the pain reliever Lortab at a pharmacy in

Pensacola, Florida (Rolling Stone). Calling in these false prescriptions ripped her away from

her family and she now has $150,000 worth of fines. Jenifer now questions What's going to

happen when we come out, especially to people coming from poverty? If you weren't a criminal

coming in, this is the place you get started."(Rolling Stone). This sorrowing story as well as

many others prove that mandatory minimum sentences are unfair. Instead, judges should be

given the right to determine sentencing as they see fit in all situations.

Nixons war on drugs formally proclaimed in the mid 1980s, has been an essential

supporter of the huge development of the US prison system. From this policy and the rise in

recreational drug use, the mandatory minimum sentencing policy was enforced. This policy is a

law that requires binding prison terms of a particular length for people convicted of certain

federal and state crimes (famm.org). These automatic minimum terms for specific violations are

enforced by congress mostly in the case of a drug offense. 5 or 10 years minimum without parole

is given to most offenders depending on the amount of drugs involved (Sterling). As of now

46,000 People in State Prisons in the US Most Serious Offense was Possession of a Drug

(drugwarfacts.org). Something as minor as drug possession should not have the effect of

permanently altering ones life for the worse.

In regards to those who believe that there should be no sympathy given to those who

disobey the law, they are still human. When people are put into prison the media has a great way

of altering the perception of someone to make their punishment look well deserved. Statistics
prove that harsh prison environments serve to toughen inmates which can further criminalize

nonviolent offenders. Thus showing the prison system does more to harm our people than to help

them.

The issue with mass incarceration is that it is not effective for all criminals that fall victim

to the system. Too many people are in prison who should not be there. According to

newsusa.com, Nonviolent offenders account for 90 percent of federal prisoners. It is not that

they are completely honest of the offenses that put them there. It is that they are in jail due to the

fact that we have criminalized immeasurable ranges that involve offenders with non-violent

intensions and intensified that with an unjust system of sentencing. Criminal equity shouts out

for change, it is time to make that change!

 Works cited

Jones, Andrea. "The Nation's Shame: The Injustice of Mandatory Minimums."

Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone, 07 Oct. 2014. Web. 21 Apr. 2017.

"What are Mandatory Minimums?" FAMM. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2017.

Sterling, Eric E. PBS. Public Broadcasting Service, n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2017.

"Prisons, Jails, and People Arrested for Drugs." Prisons, Jails, and People Arrested
for Drugs | Drug War Facts. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2017.

Zuckerman, Mortimer B. "Get a Little Less Tough on Crime." U.S. News & World
Report. U.S. News & World Report, 09 May 2014. Web. 21 Apr. 2017.