mandatory minimum
Legally enforced floor
A mandatory minimum is a legally required minimum sentence that judges must impose for certain crimes, removing judicial discretion.
Drug offenses and weapons charges commonly carry mandatory minimums: The mandatory minimum for that charge is five years.
Critics argue they lead to disproportionate sentences; supporters say they ensure consistency and deter crime.
- sentencingImposing legal punishment
- drug offenseCrime involving illegal substances
- prisonConfinement for offenders
- judgeOne who decides
- felonySerious criminal offense
drugs · first-time offender · conviction · life sentence · parole · harsh · tough on crime · incarceration · guideline · statute · prosecutor · crime · punishment · jail · federal · criminal justice · deterrent · reform
- criminal justicearrest, jail, court, prison, crime
- criminal lawcrime, felony, misdemeanor, murder, robbery
- Criminal Penaltiesprison, jail, incarceration, death penalty, life sentence
- prison sentenceslife sentence, prison term, jail time, sentence length, life without parole
- sentencinglife sentence, life sentences, prison sentence, death row, consecutive sentences
- Sentencing Factorsmitigating factors, aggravating factors, extenuating circumstances, criminal history, prior record
mandatory minimumdiversion program
Non-prison criminal resolution
probation · suspended sentence · maximum sentence · community service · restorative justice
mandatory, minimum, mandate, mandated, mandating, mandates, mandatorily, minimal, minimums