Mandatory Minimum Sentencing in Florida: Past Trends and Future Implications

Abstract

Early release programs in Florida have resulted in significant decreases in the percentage of sentences served. Mandatory minimum sentences are increasingly being imposed by the courts to ensure that a major portion of prison sentences are served. However, the long-term impact of these sentences has not been fully anticipated. This study presents the relative effect mandatory minimum sentences have on the length and cost of imprisonment along with their accumulative effect on prison capacity needs. A forecast of the number of inmates under mandatory minimum sentences to the year 2000 displays dramatically the consequences these sentencing options produce.