John Smallwood's List: WP # 2 Annotated Bibliography

DeBenedictis, D. (1993). How long is too long?. ABA Journal, 79(10), 74. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database. \n\nThis article gives the history behind mandatory minimum sentencing. Also discussed in the source is the excessive prison terms attached to the sentencing guidelines. Don J.DeBenedictis, is a lawyer and editor and chief of Lawyer Today.

Gill, M. (2009). Let's Abolish Mandatory Minimums: The Punishment Must Fit the Crime. Human Rights: Journal of the Section of Individual Rights & Responsibilities, 36(2), 4. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.

This article was found searching mandatory minimum sentencing in the Academic Premier database. In the article the author discusses the unfairness of mandatory minimums. She gives an anecdote about an individual who stole $153 worth of video tapes and is now seerving a life sentence under the three strikes law which is a mandatory minimum sentencing law. The author makes strong points that sentnecing guidelines are unconstitutional. Molly Gill is the director of special and legal projects for Families Against Mandatory Minimums. Although tthe authors views are very one sided her information is compelling and concrete.

Freeman, R. (1999) Correctional organization and management: public policy challenges, behavior, and structure. Butterworth-Heinman. Retrieved March 12,2010 from google books.

This source is a book with information about the effects of mandatory sentencing guidelines. The book gives evidence showing the rise in prison population (an affect of mandatory minimums) since the introduction of mandatory minimums. The author Robert Freeman has been a manager of correctional facilities for 21 years.

dailybackground (2007, October14)Whats wrong with mandatory minimum sentencing? [videofile]. video posted to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIkuSW6ZINI \n\nIn this source was found searching youtube .com.

In this video Dr. Alvin Poussaint discusses the unfairness of mandatroy minimum cocaine sentences. He also touches on the sentencing guidelines causing prison overcrowding. Dr. Poussaint is a professor of psychiatry at Harvard University.

Grover G., N., President, &americans for tax, R. (n.d). Mandatory minimums. FDCH Congressional Testimony, Retrieved from Military & Government Collection database. \n\nThis source was found using the library database in a search for mandatory minimum and taxpayer spending. The testimony discusses the cost of corrections in correlation with mandatory minimums. This source helps inform my reader about the increase in corrections cost since the introduction of mandatory minimum sentences. Grover G. Norquist is the president of Americans for Tax Reform. The author or speaker is well known in the government and often speaks at congress.

Vitanen, M. (March 25, 2009) New York stiffens laws in harsh drug sentences. Move would save money and ease prison overcrowding. The Houston Chronicle p.17 Retrieved March 26,2010.

This source is a newspaper article found usinf the library database. The article discusses the possibility of mandatory minimum reform in the state of New York. The article also provides information about the current strain that mandatory minimums cause the prison population and the state budget.

Cox, M. ( 2010, January 22). Cox fights early release of violent criminals in Oakland, Berrien, and Alpena counties. Retrieved April 1, 2010 from http://www.michigan.gov/ag/0,1607,7-164--230336--,00.html

This source discusses the early relese of violent criminals. The source gives examples of convicts committing heinous crimes while on parole. The author of the article is the Mike Cox the Attorney General of Michigan, which gives the information great credibility. I will use this source to give my audience insight into the domino effect of mandatory minimum sentencing.

Hughes, T. Wlison, D. (n.d) Reentry trends in the U.S. retrieved \n\nfrom: http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/reentry/reentry.cfm

This source is a report which gives trend statistics regarding convicts who are granted parole. The report gives information about trends of parolees from 1994 until 2001. The source will help me show the amount of violent drug offenders that are released from prison. I will also use the source to show the percentage of individuals who complete the parole term. The report was written by Timothy Hughes and Doris James Wilson, who are statiticians for the Bureau of Justice. Although the authors are not well known in their field they are employees of the U.S government, which makes the source very credible.