One of the underlying challenges of recidivism that results in high rates of incarceration are the punitive sentencing guidelines. It is acknowledged that the sentencing policies of the war on drugs era resulted in rapid growth in imprisonment for drug charges. Additionally, severe sentencing laws such as mandatory minimums keep offenders convicted of drug charges in prison for lengthier periods of time (NeSmith, 2015). Harmon (2013) states that because the mandatory minimum statutes are written so generally, many low-level offenders are impacted, including many who do not present a threat to society and who could be effectively disciplined with shorter sentences. To be specific, 91% of the defendants’ sentences under the mandatory minimum
