RECIDIVISM REFORMATION: ELIMINATING DRUG PREDICATES IN CRIMINAL SENTENCING
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/Keywords:
Recidivism, drug predicate offenses, sentencing enhancements, mandatory minimums, criminal law reform, equal protection, criminal procedureAbstract
Mandatory sentencing enhancements triggered by prior drug convictions—commonly known as "drug predicates"—represent a core driver of persistent mass incarceration. This article examines the legal mechanisms, empirical outcomes, and equal protection challenges associated with drug predicate statutes. It argues that re-classifying or eliminating prior non-violent drug offenses as mandatory sentence multipliers recalibrates criminal judicial discretion, reduces racial disparities in sentencing, and enhances public safety by shifting resources from long-term incarceration to evidence-based rehabilitation.
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