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Mandatory Minimum Sentencing: Adapting To Life In Prison

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Over half of the prisoners in the federal system are incarcerated for nonviolent drug offenses because of mandatory minimum sentencing. (NeSmith, 2015). Not only do they have damaging repercussions mentally but they also negatively affect the families of those punished by minimum sentencing. Because judges were unsure and untrained on how to use their discretion there was little to no appellate review on sentencing. This with indeterminate sentencing caused an overhaul of reform which introduced mandatory minimum and overhaul sentencing. As a means to fight illegal drug abuse minimum mandatory sentencing was created. Adapting to criminal life in prison has negative impacts on criminals serving time. They have to make mental adjustments to adapt to life in prison and this makes it hard for them to adjust to life outside of prison. In turn, because prison life is dictated for inmates after their release it difficult for them to make decisions and adequate choices on their own. The 2 most disheartening effects are that prisoners can not mentally adjust to life outside of prison because they have to continuously be afraid and cautious while in jail. After these long sentences it is hard for them to reenter society with a sense of trusting and self worth because of the way criminals have to have their guard up. …show more content…
C. (2015). TOUGH ON CRIME OR TOUGH LUCK FOR THE INCARCERATED? EXPLORING THE ADVERSE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACTS OF MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCING AND PUSHING FOR ACTION. Law & Psychology Review,

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