Analysis: Petty Crime, Outrageous Punishment by Carl M. Cannon

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Mandatory Minimum sentencing has been around since the late 1700's for very heinous crimes like murder and rape; but since the mid-1980's, mandatory minimum sentences have become increasingly more popular, with figures on both ends of the political spectrum backing bills proposing a mandatory minimum sentence for non-violent crimes, especially for crimes relating to the war against illegal drugs (Mascharka). Even with many people voicing their opposition to these laws, many states, even today, still continue to pass new, similar laws, targeting different types of offenders for different types of crimes. These sentences, while once useful, are creating more harm than good, causing the United States to become the global leader in incarceration rate, surpassing most other nations by over 6 percent (Mascharka). Carl M. Cannon believes that the abolishment of these laws would be good for the United States, by reducing the number of incarcerated peoples we have on the streets, which would reduce taxes for U.S citizens. Cannon has clearly done his research, and his data backs up his claim and supports it extremely well. In his article “Petty Crime, Outrageous Punishment”, Carl M. Cannon argues against the severity of mandatory minimum sentences in terms of ethics and the cost to the state. Mandatory minimum, or in some states, “Three strikes and you’re out laws”, were designed to stop the drug trade by instituting a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years to life after a certain number of crimes were committed. These laws were enacted so judges couldn’t be soft on repeat offenders, a good idea, but as Cannon argues, gone terribly wrong. Many criminals have gotten life sentences for petty theft, while others, convicted of violent off... ... middle of paper ... ...k, Evan, and Paul Larkin. "Reconsidering Mandatory Minimum Sentences: The Arguments for and Against Potential Reforms." The Heritage Foundation. The Heritage Foundation, 10 Feb. 2014. Web. 26 Feb. 2014. . Cannon, Carl M. "Petty Crime, Outrageous Punishment." 2005. 40 Model Essays: A Portable Anthology. Ed. Jane E. Aaron. Bedford: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2005. 579-84. Print. Khandros, Anna. "Exploring the Ethics of Mandatory Minimum Sentencing." Ethical Inquiry. International Center for Ethics, Justice and Public Life, Oct. 2011. Web. 26 Feb. 2014. . Mascharka, Christopher. "Mandatory Minimum Sentences: Exemplifying the Law of Unintended Consiquences." 2001. PDF file.

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