Foreword
The movement to establish mandatory minimum sentences for drug-related offenses began in the United States in the 1950s, gained momentum during the 1970s, and reached a crescendo in 1986, with passage of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act. With rates of drug-related crimes soaring, Congress reasoned that stiff punishments would deter people from engaging in illegal drug activity and incapacitate major drug traffickers. Mandatory minimum sentences require that a judge impose a sentence of "not less than" a designated term of imprisonment for individuals convicted of certain crimes. Such sentences must be applied without regard for a person’s role in the crime…
