Aggravated Quote by Michelle Alexander
“Mandatory minimum sentences give no discretion to judges about the amount of time that the person should receive once a guilty verdict is rendered. Harsh mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses were passed by Congress in the 1980s as part of the war on drugs and the "get tough" movement, sentences that have helped to fuel our nation's prison boom and have also greatly aggravated racial disparities, particularly in the application of mandatory minimum sentences for crack cocaine.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander, 2010
Mandatory minimums remove judicial flexibility, leading to harsh, disproportionate sentences.
In simple terms: Fixed sentences limit judges’ discretion.
Key Takeaway
Advocate for sentencing reform.
Themes
justice
policy
inequality
Mood
critical
concerned
Type
analytical
advocational
When to use this quote
- court sentencing
- legislative reform
- advocacy work
Key Concepts
criminal law
racial disparity
Questions to Reflect On
- How do mandatory minimums affect communities?
- What alternatives could ensure fairness?
A Different Perspective
Rigid laws can ignore individual circumstances.
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