Mandatory Sentencing Strategies

There are thousands of nonviolent drug offenders serving a lengthy mandatory prison sentencing within federal prisons. Years ago, during the “war on drugs”, this was President Richard Nixon quick fix to the dramatic growth on drug use and dealing. Decades later, maybe sooner, it has come to light that this mandatory sentencing mostly affected African American Men. For example, powder cocaine versus crack cocaine, were said to be two different drugs and crack cocaine dealers would serve a mandatory sentencing if in possession of such. Crack cocaine was an easy drug to acquire in urban neighbourhoods while powder cocaine was seen as a much prestige drug used among a more rich community. President Barack Obama has shown to be determined to find …show more content…
President Obama has mastered ways to use his limited constitutional and congressional powers. His efforts to pass the Criminal Justice Reform Bill, as his last bill before the end of his term, has shown to be promising. The Criminal Justice Reform Bill is a legislation to reduce some of the mandatory sentencing. President Obama has used both Samuel Kernall and Richard Neustadt theoretical strategies power of persuasion by the president. Samuel Kernall strategy of “going public” at which the president takes his political issues, that the government refuse to agree with, and publicise it to get mass support from the public. Richard Neustadt power to persuade is a strategy where the president is more formal by inform individuals that it is in their best interest to support his political issues at hand. Both theories have become strategies used by some of the most successful presidents in the past. President Obama has shown that both strategies are successful strategies with gaining support for the Criminal Justice Reform …show more content…
This strong armed power strategy is not easily seen by the public. With the need for a replacement Supreme Court judge, to fill an open seat, has gotten republicans on their toes with the presidential election coming to an end and a congress that could shift to one political party side with the implant of one candidate. president Obama looking to have his Criminal Justice Bill pass before the end of his term could use a quick solution. Informing the republicans of the outcome of nominating a democratic to fill the Supreme Court possession could be dramatic would be seen as a strong arm threat to the republicans. A president whose political party holds more seated in both chambers of congress is seen to not have much resistance in passing further legislation. Doing so this would be President Obama 's way of persuading the republicans with his position to fill the seat, to support his bill or lose the majority in