What Are Mandatory Minimum Sentences (MMS)?
Federal mandatory minimum sentences (MMS) are determined solely by the weight of the drugs, or the presence of a firearm during a felony offense. The prisoner must serve at least 85% of this sentence, and there is no parole available. The only way to get a sentence reduction is through acting as an informant against others, including one’s confidants, friends and family. The sentences are mandatory in that judges must impose them, regardless of the defendant’s role in the offense, his culpability, likelihood of rehabilitation, or any other mitigating factors. Many states have adopted similar mandatory minimum sentences, and the international community is also now lowering its standards of excessive cruelty to that of the US. If you would like to do something about this injustice, your help is needed. An organization dedicated to reform of these penalties is Families Against Mandatory Minimums.
