NCJ Number
137910
Date Published
1991
Length
200 pages
Annotation
To fulfill its statutory directive, this report contains a compilation of all mandatory minimum sentencing provisions in Federal law.
Abstract
The seven chapters of this report provide an overview of mandatory minimum sentencing in the Federal criminal justice system, describe the advent of the Federal sentencing guidelines system, discuss implications relating to the goal of eliminating unwarranted sentencing disparity and the operation of the plea process, provide a detailed empirical study of mandatory minimum sentencing, present information to facilitate understanding of the impact of mandatory minimums on the Federal criminal justice system, and analyze methods Congress may employ to effect sentencing policy other than through enactment of mandatory minimums. The Sentencing Commission identifies over 60 criminal statutes that contain mandatory minimum penalties applicable to Federal offenses in the Federal criminal code, but only 4 of these 60 statutes, which relate to drug and weapons offenses, frequently result in convictions. Available data suggest that mandatory minimum sentences are not applied as expected to all cases that meet the statutory criteria of eligibility. 159 footnotes, 12 figures, and 36 tables