What does mandatory sentencing involve?

Mandatory sentencing refers to a legal framework that establishes fixed penalties for specific crimes, removing judicial discretion during sentencing. This means that when a defendant is convicted of a particular offense, the court must impose a predefined sentence, regardless of unique circumstances or mitigating factors in the individual case. This approach is often applied to serious crimes, aiming to create uniformity and deter criminal behavior by ensuring consistent punishments.

Unlike flexible sentencing options that allow judges to consider various circumstances surrounding a case, or rehabilitation-focused systems that emphasize transforming behavior instead of punitive measures, mandatory sentencing mandates a set outcome. Furthermore, it does not inherently provide opportunities for parole eligibility, as the emphasis is on enforcing the predetermined sentence rather than facilitating a path for early release based on an individual's conduct post-sentencing.