Drug sentences are only part of the problem. Many violent and non-violent crimes carry far greater sentences than they did in the 1970s.
Extremely high sentences do several bad things, first, they normalize giving extremely high sentences so relatively a 3 year sentence seems low, when in reality, that is nearly 5% of someone's life. Second, large sentences force otherwise innocent people to plea out of charges because the risk is simply too high.
Extremely high sentences do several bad things, first, they normalize giving extremely high sentences so relatively a 3 year sentence seems low, when in reality, that is nearly 5% of someone's life. Second, large sentences force otherwise innocent people to plea out of charges because the risk is simply too high.