Mandatory minimum sentences are automatic, minimum prison terms set by Congress. Judges in the U.S. are required to base their sentences on the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, mandatory minimum sentencing laws, or both. In 1986 the U.S. Congress passed the Anti-Drug Abuse Act which enacted new mandatory minimum sentences for drugs. People caught with 5 grams of crack cocaine were given jail sentences of 5 years without parole (the same sentence as people caught with 500 grams). The legislation was in response to the moral panic involving the crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980’s. In 201…
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@ISIDEWITH7yrs7Y
No
@9FNTCQZ2yrs2Y
My best counter argument of the Mandatory minimum prison sentence is because some people deserve to be in prison. In my opinion, it tells me if you made it to jail for let alone prison you have done something bad in order to get there.
@ISIDEWITH7yrs7Y
Yes
We should give community service, require mental health services, and provided reform instead of resorting to prisons.
@9F86MXC2yrs2Y
Drug users are victims of a myriad of different circumstances, and further punishing them for addictions is immoral
@ISIDEWITH7yrs7Y
Yes, but only for drug dealers, not users
@9ZNKXPC8mos8MO
Drug dealers are likely impoverished individuals trying to survive in their area. They are often mirroring entrepreneurs. If we invested in these individuals rather that vilify and use them for modern slavery in private prisons than we would have a better society. That is why mandatory minimum prison sentences are ineffective in my opinion. Punishment for survival is not a crime.
Some dealers are criminals, this can be taken on a case by case basis, but this is not overall how the sentiment of our system should be toward drugs in our society.
@8PPBWMZ5yrs5Y
All drugs should be legalized at a federal level
Yes, but only for drug dealers and for users there should be a mandatory rehab sentence.
@8PKWJB25yrs5Y
Should it be the same sentence for all drugs?
@9D9TN4F2yrs2Y
No, unless a violent crime is committed, and if so, punitive measures should be related to the violent crime and not drug possession
@9DZSN4Z2yrs2Y
No, users should be put into some kind of institution specifically for them, and for dealers it should depend on the drug
I understand your point about users needing help rather than punishment, and differentiating between dealers based on the drug. However, it's crucial to remember that creating separate institutions for users can potentially stigmatize them further, rather than helping them reintegrate into society. For instance, Portugal decriminalized all drugs in 2001 and instead of imprisonment, they focused on treating drug use as a public health issue. This led to significant reductions in problematic drug use, HIV and Hepatitis infection rates, overdose deaths, drug-related crime and incarceration rates.
Do you think such a model could work in other countries or do you believe there are unique cultural or societal factors that might affect its success?
@8GP94TLIndependent5yrs5Y
I think less prison time for offenses like this and maximum for rapists , pedophiles , child abusers , etc
@8HB997P5yrs5Y
No, most drugs should be legalized and the population left to sort itself out. Jail should only be used for people infringing on OTHERS' rights.
@B2658Z77mos7MO
No, decriminalize all drugs and immediately release anyone currently serving time solely for drug offenses
@9D3RPBQ2yrs2Y
We Must Rehabilitate Everyone and Abolish Prisons
No, We should give community service, require mental health services, and provide reform instead of resorting to prisons.
@9DXJFQP2yrs2Y
No, legalize drugs and pardon all prisoners convicted of drug crimes
@9RJGQ4F12mos12MO
Yes, but only for users/dealers of Schedule 1 drug (provided that marijuana is reclassified to a Schedule 2 or lower drug).
@8GPC4BH5yrs5Y
No victimless crimes aren’t crimes
@9DMXBB92yrs2Y
Yes, but increase funding for addiction prevention and rehabilitation
@8X54X5C4yrs4Y
@8KRBRKBConstitution5yrs5Y
There one thing i know and thats that drug use won't stop. dare has apsoluty no efect on drug use otherwise there a chance that it went up. the people who made this study was bullyed into lying about it. realy what we should do is put drug care spot so they can get drugged with medical care to help with overdoses. that way better then putting people to jail for an adiction. that like being arested because of having the flu. so the answer is no they should make drug spots so they won't die.
@B5P3FXW1mo1MO
Only for certain substances, marijuana should be legal and all other should remain illegal and prosecuted
@9D6D9G92yrs2Y
Depends on the strenght of the drug.
@QuorumMuesli2yrs2Y
Heroin dealers should receive a stronger sentence than marijuana dealers?
@8GQSF755yrs5Y
It depends on what type of drug it is, if they are a drug dealer, if they are selling it to kids and harming others, etc.
@9CYQ6J7Independent2yrs2Y
Yes, but only if they refuse treatment
@8XB4BPR4yrs4Y
The focus for drug use and possession should have a larger focus on rehabilitation for drug use/abuse as opposed to criminalizing the users at all. The decriminalization of hard drugs and funding research into rehabilitation would allow more people to seek out help and rehabilitation instead of facing criminal charges for something that is out of their control. TL;DR: Decriminalize hard drugs and put funding into rehabilitation so more people can confidently seek out help.
@8GPCR7T5yrs5Y
Legalize drugs so this is no longer an issue
@8MRSGV55yrs5Y
I think they should be mandated to go to rehab.
@8LZ5TKSLibertarian5yrs5Y
No, victimless crimes should not be charged
@8PSJX635yrs5Y
There should be no drug charges at all
I think depending on what the case is if they were selling or using it definitely no but they if they had because someone was making them, or they were protecting someone by finding it then I think there sentences should be minimum
To an extent based on mental capabilities and behavior projected by convicted felons in their medical history.
@9X59L578mos8MO
It's not about me more people need to stay pro-me less pro-life or pro-chose it's not about you so it's not your opinion or fact it just happens
@9WZD76GRepublican8mos8MO
It depends on the drug found in possession, quantity of drug and intent of use with the drug along with if the user/dealer has dependents such as young children
@9HDZY552yrs2Y
depends on the drug and the amount. Weed possession and usage should NOT be an state/federal offense anymore unless caught having a DUI
@9F8QS8H2yrs2Y
Yes, no matter the offence, but only if they use or deal heavy drugs
@9F4BTS62yrs2Y
instead of jail for possession they should have forever rehab
@DiegoRoldan2yrs2Y
No, more should be done to rehabilitate drug users
@9DRHX76 2yrs2Y
No, because drug use is an issue of mental health; the exception is drug use while operating vehicles or other dangerous equipment
Yes, but it depends on what the drug was, and what was committed.
@9D7RQVKConstitution2yrs2Y
Yes, but they should have to do some kind of work.
@9D682YP2yrs2Y
It depends on the severity of the crimes.
@927XF453yrs3Y
@9STNQFM10mos10MO
I think that rehabilitation is the way to go, not prison sentences for both users and dealers, the root of the problem must be addressed.
@9HKRSQP 2yrs2Y
Yes, but only for drug users, not dealers. Someone using drugs needs mental help and should be treated with help versus people who are killing others by dealing drugs.
@B2ZDV3ZIndependent5mos5MO
No, Because pharmacies do this legally and give out meds that keep you contained not to boast your overall health, some individuals must past to keep the medical business going.
@Joseph-Biden 5mos5MO
Yes but there should be some restrictions!!!
@9F9J3SP2yrs2Y
It should depend on what kind of drugs you have like if you have like HARD drugs then your sentence should be longer than with people with like week and other things like that.
@9D4XNST2yrs2Y
Yes, but depending on the kinda drugs involved. Weed? No. But more hardcore and crime related drugs like Eustasy, Coke, and Heroine? Yes. And drug dealers, no matter what kind of drug they dealing, Yes.
No but it wholly depends on the severity of the drug, such as the harder substances. Dealers of these hard drugs must be tried and executed.
@9D4PRPY2yrs2Y
No, and abolish all crimes pertaining to the purchase or sale of drugs by adults to adults, along with with DEA. The only drug offenses punishable should be use of a motor vehicle while impaired, sale of drugs to children, and drugging someone without their knowledge or consent.
@99MFTPG2yrs2Y
Yes, but only if they refuse rehabilitation
Deleted3yrs3Y
Yes, but except case that possessed by mistake.
@8LJH638Progressive5yrs5Y
Not for weed possession or use. We should decriminalize drugs in general.
@9D4Y7JBRepublican2yrs2Y
No. The legislatures should be providing a range of sentences and judges should be giving the leeway to make the hard choices of giving a proper sentence for the situation. If certain judges are either overly light or strict with their sentencing, then their assignments should be adjusted or they should lose their position. Being a judge is not meant to be easy.
@8GRVGKGRepublican5yrs5Y
Yes, but the sentence needs to be fair, the sentence should be based on the drug they were charged on
@8H33Z36 5yrs5Y
Only if they are dealing the drugs. Less jail time for those possessing drugs = fewer single-parent households = less drug possession.
@8KQF7VXLibertarian5yrs5Y
No, and pardon all prisoners charged with victimless drug crimes.
@8KQ78HB5yrs5Y
You shouldn’t be sentenced for drug possession
@8KMYSVC5yrs5Y
@Claycast4yrs4Y
No, people charged with drug possession should never face jailtime
@8KPZC5BProgressive5yrs5Y
War on drugs is a failure just like prohibition was a failure we gone this route twice with disastrus effects.
@8HFKB265yrs5Y
Depending on what drug it was such as like marijuana compared to a drug that could really kill someone like Fentanyl.
@8QMNTPZRepublican4yrs4Y
Yes, but only for dealers. Users should be required to attend rehab
@8KBYFLRIndependent5yrs5Y
joe biden wants to decriminalize all drugs this isn’t even correct.
@8Y5ZQPH4yrs4Y
@97YVDZ93yrs3Y
Yes, but only for hard substances.
@8RCSC3X4yrs4Y
yes, but depending on the drug and the amount
Yes, but for repeat offenders.
@8FVG5PY5yrs5Y
Yes But, lower the minimum
@8CRC8365yrs5Y
yes Drug dealers and users
@8CM63Q25yrs5Y
It depends on the person.
@983X3L83yrs3Y
No, they shouldn't even be getting a prison sentence
@8G5RLFD5yrs5Y
Depending on the drugs involved.
@8G5NX5H5yrs5Y
It depends on the drug. If it is weed, no. But if it is meth, yes.
@8G3XHGF5yrs5Y
No, people should be rehabilitated not incarcerated.
@8GC9KR35yrs5Y
@8QDR65L4yrs4Y
No, drug possession and use should not be a criminal offense
@8PF2X2F5yrs5Y
Yes, but only in some cases
No, non-violent users of lethal street drugs should be sentenced to mandatory admission at a rehabilitation center with completion of the rehab recovery program(s)
@8QYBRN74yrs4Y
depending on the drugs in possession
Yes, but only for a certain amount of drugs
@8PPPHWNRepublican5yrs5Y
Depends on substance and amount..
@8MFWL6B5yrs5Y
@8DYQGCXLibertarian5yrs5Y
No one should go to jail for drugs
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