Chemical Dependency | Mandatory Minimum Sentences Are Essential to the War on Drugs

In the following viewpoint, David Risley contends that mandatory minimum sentences help discourage drug dealers. He argues that federal sentencing guidelines, which determine sentences based on the seriousness of the offense and the defendant’s criminal record, should not take the place of mandatory minimums. According to Risley, the federal guidelines are too lenient toward marijuana growers. He asserts that Congress’s mandatory minimum sentences more appropriately punish marijuana possession and use. Risley is an assistant district attorney in Illinois.

As you read,...

[The entire page is 2051 words long]

Join eNotes

The above is a free excerpt. Get total access to this content with the: