Mandatory minimum
Ending mandatory minimums and enhancements
Many existing mandatory minimum sentencing laws and enhancements were created decades ago during the prison boom and the War on Drugs, which we know has utterly failed to make communities healthier or safer. Instead, these draconion laws are rooted in racism and discrimination, serving only to criminalize and further impoverish Black, Indigenous and other communities of color. They also prevent courts from considering individual circumstances, even though at least 80% of incarcerated women are victims of physical abuse. Rather than punish people for their survival, including handing down extreme sentences, we work to increase access to resources for recovery and transformation.