Only 17% of the public support mandatory sentencing without specified crime type.

Mandatory sentencing schemes typically require minimum periods of incarceration for certain serious crimes and for individuals who have serious criminal records.

The state typically has discretion to pursue or waive mandatory sentencing.

When that situation existed in the criminal justice system, mandatory sentencing guidelines were instituted.

Mandatory sentencing prohibits judges from using their discretion and forces them to place longer sentences on nonviolent offenses than they normally would do.