Document Type
Blog Post
Publication Date
2-15-2024
Abstract
Over the past fifty years, the United States has witnessed a staggering increase in its prison population. Between 1973 and 2009, the nation’s prison populations increased seven-fold, at one point growing at a rate of eight percent annually. According to 2023 estimates, roughly 1.9 million individuals were incarcerated in the United States. This stark reality has fueled national discourse on the issue of mass incarceration and contributing policies such as sentencing practices. One such sentencing practice that impacts mass incarceration is statutory mandatory minimums.
This post was originally published on the Cardozo Journal of Equal Rights and Social Justice website on February 15, 2024. The original post can be accessed via the Archived Link button above.
Recommended Citation
Abrams, Emily K., "Path To Progress: The Smarter Sentencing Act's Potential To Redefine U.S. Sentencing Norms" (2024). ERSJ Blog. 68.
https://larc.cardozo.yu.edu/ersj-blog/68
