Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Paper

Families and children are negatively impacted by the increased incarceration of women in America. “In the United States, there are more children with incarcerated parents than there are people in prison.” (Boudin, 2011) Women before incarceration, are frequently the heads of their households and have children that depend on them for financial stability and care. Studies show that the extended absence of incarcerated mothers from homes results in less stable environments for children when breadwinners are and children are left without support and guidance.
Currently the criminal justice system does not consider the existence of children when evaluating sentencing options for women who are mothers. Mandatory minimum sentencing has been especially