Argumentative research
Napoleon 2
Professor
English 102 #30834
April 6, 2026
Annotated Working Bibliography (AWB)
CQ Researcher
Marshall, Patrick . "Three-Strikes Laws". CQ Researcher, 10 May 2002. Thousand Oaks, California: CQ Press, 2002. 7 Apr 2026, doi: https://doi.org/10.4135/cqresrre20020510
Annotations: This report is wonderfully written. The education piece is there; we are given objective information, pros and cons as well as a timeline of acts/reforms on laws over time. The stakes of what's to come if the U.S. government moves for or against the abolishment of the mandatory minimums. I will be using this article once I get to the point of picking a side to argue.
Status: PDF saved to “AWB folder” with annotations and notes.
Glazer, Sarah. "Sentencing Reform". CQ Researcher, 10 Jan 2014. Thousand Oaks, California: CQ Press, 2014. 7 Apr 2026, doi: https://doi.org/10.4135/cqresrre20140110
Annotations: Glazer makes a strong argument and example on how mandatory minimums can be unjust and inappropriate when compared to other crimes. She also highlights judges who don’t agree with the sentences they are mandated to give under these minimums. More drug-focused and supporting the abolishment of mandatory minimums.
Status: PDF saved to “AWB folder” with annotations and notes.
Edwards, Margaret. "Mandatory Sentencing". CQ Researcher, 26 May 1995. Thousand Oaks, California: CQ Press, 1995. 7 Apr 2026, doi: https://doi.org/10.4135/cqresrre19950526
Annotations: Focused on punishment not fitting crime, the history behind the progress and egress of the three strike laws, but the requirements such laws put on Judges. The financial burden that older inmates are putting on the prison system. Challenges the knowledge criminals actually do and don’t have about the consequences of their actions and how this may not deter now but is showing future generations.
Status: PDF saved to “AWB folder” with annotations and notes.
Jost, Kenneth. "Sentencing Debates". CQ Researcher, 05 Nov 2004. Thousand Oaks, California: CQ Press, 2004. 7 Apr 2026, doi: https://doi.org/10.4135/cqresrre20041105
Annotations: Kenneth focuses on the power a judge has, how it can be manipulated, or considered unconstitutional. He presents cases where sentences have been considered unconstitutional because, if the case had gone through a journey and the defendant had been found guilty, the time served couldn’t have been as much as the Judges in these cases imposed when not going to trial. It also explains how Judges often have evidence the jury would not have had. I'm not sure how I would apply this information at this time; however, overreach is strongly explored and would help me explore a side not specifically against mandatory minimums, but what overreach and unconstitutional time to be served can look like.
Status: PDF saved to “AWB folder”
Opposing viewpoints
Price, Mary. “Mandatory Minimums in the Federal System: Turning a Blind Eye to Justice.” Human Rights, vol. 31, no. 1, 2004, pp. 8-10. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/trade-journals/mandatory-minimums-federal-system-turning-blind/docview/214022736/se-2.
Annotations: Forbes is for mandatory minimum sentencing and supports his claim with constants like deterrence, incapacitating repeat offenders, and ensuring consistent punishment. He believes these policies improve public safety and strengthen the criminal justice system. This is a strong supporting article in mandatory minimums. He explains how sentencing worked before 1984 and afterwards and uses history to show why the minimums were created. I'd use this article when exploring the understanding of the three-strikes laws.
Status: PDF saved to “AWB folder”
Gonzales, Alberto. "Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Is Fair." Mandatory Minimum Sentencing, edited by Margaret Haerens, Greenhaven Press, 2010. Opposing Viewpoints. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ3010649213/OVIC?u=mcc_main&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=1b2b7825. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026. Originally published as "Sentencing Guidelines," 2005.
Annotations: Gonzales supports the three strike laws and supports this with a different lens than most of the articles. He strongly advocates for protecting victims and ensuring equal punishment for offenders. He believes doing so maintains low crime rates and uses the lens of victim rights and fairness on both sides. He explains rising crime in the 60s and 70s, and the reform act in 1984, and covers the impact of the US vs Brooker decision. A strong emotional pull towards the three strike laws adds more depth to the pro argument when considering my articles thus far.
Status: PDF saved to “AWB folder”
Lewis, John, and Robert Wilkins. "Sentencing Guidelines such as Mandatory Minimum Sentences Are Discriminatory." Discrimination, edited by Jacqueline Langwith, Greenhaven Press, 2008. Opposing Viewpoints. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ3010125291/OVIC?u=mcc_main&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=6c088261. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026. Originally published as "Fix Sentencing Guidelines: Move to End Disparity along Racial Lines Hasn't Worked," Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 16 Dec. 2004.
Annotations: Lewis is strongly against mandatory minimum sentencing; he uses history to explain the failure of the system, especially towards racism. He explains the purpose of the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 and that part of the goal was to eliminate racial disparities, but how they have increased. He explains how the current system removes judicial discretion and that too much power is given to prosecutors. This article is pro-reform and adds a new concept to my current articles on racial inequality, but the negative impacts are not addressed here.
Status: PDF saved to “AWB folder”
Gonzales, Alberto. "Mandatory Minimum Sentences Are Necessary and Just." Criminal Justice, edited by David Haugen and Susan Musser, Greenhaven Press, 2009. Opposing Viewpoints. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ3010119283/OVIC?u=mcc_main&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=c4518ca5. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026. Originally published as "Prepared Remarks of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, Sentencing Guidelines Speech," 2005.
Annotations: Gonzales (repeat author, articles are a year apart, both for mandatory minimums) is focused on keeping the public safe, and argues that the minimums keep the public safe, are fair and consistent but in this article also argues that the minimums stop Judges from being overly lenient or inconsistent in sentences. He focuses on reducing sentence differences to maintain fairness and reduce bias, such as race and location. He supports research that crime rates in today's research should be lower, and the laws need more time to see this through generations. He is pro-minimum guideline system for judges, even if they are adjusted to less amounts of time, he advocates for consistency and fairness in the system. I could see this as a compromise but ultimately supporting argument id use in research for a different perspective.
Status: PDF saved to “AWB folder”
GWCC Books
Fearn, Noelle. “Mandatory Sentencing.” Courts, Law, and Justice, edited by William J Chambliss, SAGE Publications, Incorporated, 2011, pp. 159–72, https://doi.org/10.4135/9781412994125.n12.
Annotations:
Status: Book still not available – they said it is checked out to another student and will be emailed once turned in (4/20/2026)
Walsh, Jennifer Edwards. Three Strikes Laws. Greenwood Press, 2007, http://www.loc.gov/catdir/toc/ecip073/2006035283.html.
Annotations: Walsh covers the tragedy of over 2 million people being incarcerated since 1975. He looks at for profit prisons and the agenda they have to keep offenders in prison or anticipate them returning. He spoke to Micheal Jacobson who oversaw on of the largest jail systems in the country. Micheal explains that mass incarceration will not reduce crime nor create more public safety. He explains that this mindset is like throwing away the key.
Status: Picked up April 8, 2024
Jacobson, Michael. Downsizing Prisons : How to Reduce Crime and End Mass Incarceration. 1st ed., New York University Press, 2005, https://doi.org/10.18574/nyu/9780814743805.
Annotations:
Status: Book still not available – they said it is checked out to another student and will be emailed once turned in (4/20/2026)
Other Maricopa College Books
Whittington, Keith E. Repugnant Laws : Judicial Review of Acts of Congress from the Founding to the Present. 1st ed., University Press of Kansas, 2019.
Annotations: This book is a review of the US Supreme Court from the beginning to the end of 2017 and 1,308 cases in that period, all involving judicial review and acts of congress. This book was written with the idea of providing a book on the history of Judicial review of Federal laws and what cases ruled as invalid or limiting statutory provisions or how they upheld Federal Legislation against constitutional challenge. Whittington explains that judicial review traditionally focuses on the origins of the power to strike down laws or how power was abused over time. I got through 2 chapters, I’ve not found anything for this paper but did learn about the process of Judicial review.
Status: Picked up April 8, 2024
Elikann, Peter T. The Tough-on-Crime Myth : Real Solutions to Cut Crime. Insight Books, 1996.
Annotations: Elkann proposes an idea ive not seen in my other articles and books. He addresses the tough on crime political policy. He shows that no matter who the politician is, a majority just push more and longer sentences. In this book he proposes rigorous community service where inmates report daily, and complete job training and certificates. He proposes they have civic restrictions similar to those during punishment while in the military. I like his idea of reformation but also what his plan would look like.
Status: Picked up April 8, 2024
Freeman, Jim. Rich Thanks to Racism : How the Ultra-Wealthy Profit from Racial Injustice. ILR Press, an imprint of Cornell University Press, 2022.
Annotations: Freeman educated about the civil rights movement and how racial inequalities are still across the US but especially in prison sentences. I only read the first two chapters as I don’t think the last three relate to what I was looking for. While this was a good source, he only uses the prison system as an example of racism. He dissects politics and says they have cruel agendas from the school system to the criminal justice system. This book was very sad, I teared up when I read the one in nine black men will be imprisoned in their lifetime. He doesn’t believe racism has been properly addressed in the criminal justice system.
Status: Picked up April 8, 2024
Electronic Books
Bates, Catherine N. “THREE STRIKE MANDATORY SENTENCING (18 U.S.C. 3559(C)): AN OVERVIEW.” An Examination of Sentencing Levels and Mandatory Minimums, Nova Science Publishers, Incorporated, 2011.
Annotations: This book is a good source because it was written after the Fair Sentencing Act in 2010. This act removed and changed triggers for the three-strikes minimums, especially in drug cases. This act created guidelines for Judges that advised them, but didn’t create mandatory sentencing, allowing them room for the case and avoiding unfair disparities such as race or circumstances. Firearm and drug offenses were used heavily, while there are hundreds of laws, only some are used often, and the few that are used often affect the majority in the three-strikes minimum. In 2010, judges were given the ability to consider fairness and had flexibility in the verdict. This book also explains the ways mandatory minimums are avoided or the exceptions to them, which was new information from other articles that I think I can use to add context to my research paper.
Status: Downloaded and saved to “AWB folder”, annotations saved.
Kieso, Douglas W. “Discretion and the Three Strikes Law.” Unjust Sentencing and the California Three Strikes Law, LFB Scholarly Publishing LLC, 2005.
Annotations: This book covers the death of Kimber Reynolds, and Polly Klass. Mike Reynolds is Kimber’s father and after one of her assailants’ court sentencings was dedicated to getting new laws in place. His intention was to create a law that would affect the greatest number of criminals and a law that impacted criminals with any third strike felony would accomplish this. The death of Polly helped his movement launch forward with overwhelming amounts of support as the nations number one concern become public safety. This writing takes us through the passage of AB971. I think ill use the story line and Reynolds original intent in my paper.
Status: Downloaded and saved to “AWB folder”
IVAN G. GOLDMAN. “Three Strikes and You’re Out.” Sick Justice, Potomac Books, 2013, p. 65, https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt1ddr88n.9.
Annotations: This book presents both sides of the debate with strong arguments for and against reform of mandatory minimums. This book brings new complexity but further explores each side and repeats the need for true and further consideration when creating and changing laws. The argument for mandatory minimums is based on the idea of consistent sentencing, ensuring strict punishment, reducing crime, and increasing deterrence. While the argument against mandatory minimums explains unfair and overly harsh sentences and removes judicial discretion, this is leading to disparities and injustice.
Status: Downloaded and saved to “AWB folder”, annotations saved.
Academic Search Premier
Reilly, Samuel B. “Where Is the Strike Zone? Arguing for a Uniformly Narrow
Interpretation of the Prison Litigation Reform Act’s ‘Three Strikes’ Rule.” Emory
Law Journal, vol. 70, no. 3, Jan. 2021, pp. 755–96. EBSCOhost,
research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=14badba6-a22d-31c5-a7fc-2519707bb03a.
Annotations: The main focus of this article is if the Three-strike laws reduce crime and the conclusion is that the laws have little to no consistent effect on crime and that the results are unclear otherwise. This journal studied crime patterns before and after the laws went into effect and found no strong, consistent evidence. This is a data-based entry with a variety of statistics to analyze. Based on the data analysis, I could see myself using this information in the future to evaluate both sides of the research.
Status: Downloaded and saved to “AWB folder”
Caulkins, Jonathan P. “How Large Should the Strike Zone Be in ‘Three Strikes and
You’re Out’ Sentencing Laws?” Journal of Quantitative Criminology, vol. 17, no.
3, Sept. 2001, p. 227. EBSCOhost,
https://doi-org.libproxy.maricopa.edu/10.1023/A:1011098100458.
Annotations: Caulkins advocates that the Three-strike laws requiring mandatory minimums have no deterrent effect on crime, that repeat offenders are not strongly influenced by harsher penalties. This article breaks down deterrence theory, which states that harsher punishments don’t prevent crime. He does not believe that these kinds of criminals think about long-term consequences, or they don’t think they will get caught. He focuses on behavior, on why criminals don’t respond to laws, and takes a deep look at specific types of criminals, not just overall trends. I like the focus on niche criminals and may use these theories or information.
Status: PDF saved to “AWB folder”
Karch, Andrew, and Matthew Cravens. “Rapid Diffusion and Policy Reform: The
Adoption and Modification of Three Strikes Laws.” State Politics & Policy
Quarterly, vol. 14, no. 4, Dec. 2014, pp. 461–91. EBSCOhost,
https://doi-org.libproxy.maricopa.edu/10.1177/1532440014561867.
Annotations: This article was also shorter than I realized, it strongly assumes but does not support with evidence or cases the idea of racism. Supports that the three-strike laws took over due to public visibility and political pressure. It states that the revision of the laws was purely financial and due to stakeholders, not fairness. This article is cut and dry on how sentencing law spreads and why they do and don’t change.
Status: PDF saved to “AWB folder”
Kovandzic, Tomislav V., et al. “‘Striking Out’ as Crime Reduction Policy: The
Impact of ‘Three Strikes’ Laws on Crime Rates in U.S. Cities.” JQ: Justice
Quarterly, vol. 21, no. 2, June 2004, pp. 207–39. EBSCOhost,
https://doi-org.libproxy.maricopa.edu/10.1080/07418820400095791.
Annotations: This article was much shorter than I realized. It does explain what the laws are and why they went into effect, but no further information. I will not be using this source.
Status: PDF saved to “AWB folder”
Academic OneFile
Batey, Robert. "Mandatory minimum sentencing: a failed policy." Phi Kappa Phi Forum, vol. 82, no. 1, winter 2002, pp. 24+. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A98272740/AONE?u=mcc_main&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=d8e785e6. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
Annotations: Batey explains that mandatory minimums have failed and calls for them to be eliminated. He argues that the laws were meant to reduce crime but instead increased prison populations, unfair and harmful outcomes, and did not fix the problem. He shows data of the quadrupling prison population and the drug problems remaining constant. Low-level offenders are hit the most, and he gives examples of such. He also, like many other articles, thinks the prosecutors are being given to much power as they are deciding the minimum and if the defendant's case applies to mandatory minimums.
Status: Downloaded and saved to “AWB folder”
Barkow, Rachel E. "Recharging the jury: the criminal jury's constitutional role in an era of mandatory sentencing." University of Pennsylvania Law Review, vol. 152, no. 1, Nov. 2003, pp. 33+. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A134168394/AONE?u=mcc_main&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=ed22de33. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
Annotations: This article explains the original intents of a jury in the judicial process, how the judicial process has become an administrative one and the power of the Jury is now little to none. The power was meant to be in the people’s hands and now the power has shifted towards the prosecutors. Even Judges are being stripped with mandatory minimums. Early jury’s could even ignore laws they found to be unjust depending on the case. Jurys are supposed to represent community values according to this article and now are unable to do so and most cases do not get presented to a Jury. I like this article and believe I can find something from it.
Status: Downloaded and saved to “AWB folder”
DiIulio, Jr., John J. "A Rage to Punish: The Unintended Consequences of Mandatory Sentencing." Political Science Quarterly, vol. 109, no. 5, winter 1994, pp. 920+. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A16678092/AONE?u=mcc_main&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=c76d0dfa. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
Annotations: I didn’t originally realize this article is a review of a book that argues against mandatory sentencing, and it's the author's response pushing back against that. He brings a new opinion to my sources, that mandatory sentencing is not as harmful or extreme as critics claim, and that it was created to deal with serious crime. He uses data to show that violent crime increased from 1960 to 1992 and that many offenders had prior arrests as repeat criminals, showing that the laws had a reason to exist. Crimes were being committed by people already in the system, and these laws were created to stop that. The courts were too lenient at first and had to go the other way to keep these dangerous criminals off the street. His evidence shows that most prisoners are not low-level offenders, but acknowledges the cases where this has happened. I'm not sure if I would or would not use this information because it's based on a review, but I do need sources for my research on why citizens do or don’t want to keep the laws.
Status: Downloaded and saved to “AWB folder”
Starr, Sonja B., and M. Marit Rehavi. "Mandatory sentencing and racial disparity: assessing the role of prosecutors and the effects of Booker." Yale Law Journal, vol. 123, no. 1, Oct. 2013, pp. 2+. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A351432349/AONE?u=mcc_main&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=9e93f079. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
Annotations: This article examines racial disparities in the Judicial System especially in sentencing and argues that prosecutors are the major cause behind these disparities, not Judges. The final sentence isn’t the only thing to examine when evaluating the numbers of black citizens to any other race but also the process starting at there arrest. Black offenders are more likely to spend 10 times longer in prison with no answer outside of race, as well as twice as likely to be charged with crimes that carry mandatory minimums. This means that their sentence has already been decided before a Judge even gets involved. This article has deeply disturbed my heart. I will use this article for the opposing side of mandatory minimums.
Status: Downloaded and saved to “AWB folder”
Ethnic Newswatch
Chemerinsky, Erwin. "Life in Prison for Shoplifting: Cruel and Unusual Punishment." Human Rights, vol. 31, no. 1, 2004, pp. 11-13. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/trade-journals/life-prison-shoplifting-cruel-unusual-punishment/docview/214020046/se-2.
Annotations: This article covers how harsh and unjust the three strike or minimum sentencing laws can be, especially when citizens are spending life in prison with no chance of parole over shoplifting sentences. This article challenges how these kinds of sentences are violating a citizen’s constitutional right to fair punishment. This article uses two popular cases to show how the law is applied and the courts go about justifying their use or rejecting challenges. This article highlights that over 300 citizens in California are currently serving life sentences due to shoplifting. The courts demonstrated how they evaluate a citizens entire criminal history in these cases, not just the last crime. I will use this article to show opposing side on the crime not fitting the punishment.
Status: Downloaded and saved to “AWB folder”
Price, Mary. "Mandatory Minimums in the Federal System: Turning a Blind Eye to Justice." Human Rights, vol. 31, no. 1, 2004, pp. 8-10. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/trade-journals/mandatory-minimums-federal-system-turning-blind/docview/214022736/se-2.
Annotations: Mary argues that mandatory minimums imposed by the three strike laws are unfair and harmful to justice because she believes these minimums create inequality and injustice, including the argument of racial disparities. She believes that these minimums guarantee inequality does not prevent it and that low-level offenders can get the same sentencing as major criminals. The prosecutors gain to much power over sentencing decisions and even small differences can make a big sentence change in charges.
Status: Downloaded and saved to “AWB folder”
Williams, Lamar. "Has mandatory sentencing failed?" Philadelphia Tribune, 18 Sept., 1992, pp. 4-B. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/has-mandatory-sentencing-failed/docview/337756480/se-2.
Annotations: This article is from 1992; it does show how prison population has been a growing concern now for decades. That the budget for corrections has been forced to expand year after year. Commissioner Lehman was asking at the time of this article for the public to look at the advantages and disadvantages of this aggressive form of sentencing for the war on crime movement. His larger concern was the raising cost of incarceration. Law makers were concerned about the sentence matching the crime and the criminal. This is interesting considering its been decades and the concerns have only grown louder.
Status: Downloaded and saved to “AWB folder”
Earl, Ofari H. "CONGRESS SHOULD LISTEN TO THE JUDGES ON MANDATORY SENTENCING." The Broward Times, Mar., 2007, pp. 8. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/congress-should-listen-judges-on-mandatory/docview/368040813/se-2.
Annotations: Earl argues that the mandatory minimums of sentencing laws are unfair and should be changed or eliminated. The judges themselves are speaking out against these laws and are asking that Congress listen and reform the system. The judges themselves feel that black communities are most harshly and unjustly affected by these laws and that the mandatory minimums are not reducing crime, as they fail to target major drug dealers. This article quotes high-level judges saying that the laws are harmful, wasteful, and limit judicial independence. They advocate that to much power is being taken away from them, and some have protested and even resigned. Mass incarceration rates are seen as taking away voting rights from citizens. This article was a new approach as it discusses what Judges are saying about these laws. I will use this article in the future.
Status: Downloaded and saved to “AWB folder”
U.S. Major Dailies
Yogev, Dvir. "Contributor: Voters want both 'tough on crime' and compassionate reform." Los Angeles Times (Online)Los Angeles Times Communications LLC, 2025. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/blogs-podcasts-websites/contributor-voters-want-both-tough-on-crime/docview/3268338181/se-2.
Annotations: This article advocates for a balance of the Three-strikes law minimums and removing them, like a reform. The citizens want reform for less harsh punishment but still strong accountability for the crimes that need it. This article focuses on what voters want to see like reform and rehabilitation, but policies that are to lenient are being rejected. This article also brings up alternative options to prison times and is a clear argument for change but not the harsh one way or another that the other articles do. I could see myself using this in the future if I’m able to pick this over a strong one side or the other.
Status: Downloaded and saved to “AWB folder”
Chabria, Anita. "Chabria: Even tough-on-crime district attorneys know prison reform is smart." Los Angeles Times (Online)Los Angeles Times Communications LLC, 2025 . ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/blogs-podcasts-websites/chabria-even-tough-on-crime-district-attorneys/docview/3214067843/se-2.
Annotations: This article takes the angle of showing that even tough-on-crime supporters are beginning to lean towards supporting prison reform. Reform would focus more on rehabilitation than punishment and create programs that encourage accountability, personal growth, and reduce recidivism. Supporters point out that most incarcerated individuals will be released and preparing them to reenter society safely improves overall public safety. Chabria argues that changing prison culture may not fix the problems for all inmates, it will encourage a change in prison culture and have better outcomes for both individuals and communities. I may use this to go from the idea of supporters vs opposing parties, like a transition.
Status: Downloaded and saved to “AWB folder”
Lopez, German. "How to Cut the Prison Population, Save Money and Make Us Safer: German Lopez." New York Times (Online)New York Times Company, 2025. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/blogs-podcasts-websites/how-cut-prison-population-save-money-make-us/docview/3247716129/se-2.
Annotations: This article focuses on the benefits of letting the current system go and releasing older inmates. The idea is that this will save money, improve public safety and open the prison population by releasing inmates who probably won’t reoffend. This article highlights that crime is most commonly committed by younger people and that people over 50 have a much lower risk of committing new crimes. Inmates over 50 are much more expensive due to healthcare and extra needs. Lopez challenges the data from prison rates since the three-strike mandatory began suggesting that extended incarceration has little impact on reducing crime because those inmates are likely to commit a crime in the first place.
Status: Downloaded and saved to “AWB folder”
Ingraham, Christopher. "Americans overwhelmingly agree it's time to end mandatory minimum sentencing: Americans increasingly oppose mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent offenses." Washington Post – BlogsWP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post, 2014. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/blogs-podcasts-websites/americans-overwhelmingly-agree-time-end-mandatory/docview/1610483969/se-2.
Annotations: Ingraham believes that the mandatory minimums for nonviolent crimes, especially drug crimes, is the leading factor in the nation’s prisons populations over the last decade. He reviews states that have recently taken a step back from the three strike laws when the third strike is a nonviolent crime and looking at how the criminal justice systems are slowing recovering their budgets. He uses a poll from The Reason-Rupee survey that showed that 77 percent of Americans want to eliminate mandatory minimums. This article was shorter that I realized, I don’t think I will be using it in my paper.
Status: Downloaded and saved to “AWB folder”
Pro Quest
DiSpoldo, Nick. "Three-strikes laws." Commonweal, vol. 123, no. 12, 14 June, 1996, pp. 10. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/magazines/three-strikes-laws/docview/210401430/se-2.
Annotations: This article specifically covers the three-strike laws in California due to its “petty with a prior” law that allows petty theft to be charged as a felony if the defendant has a prior felony conviction. He brings up that citizens have moral and legal questions due to the economic burden this brings to local governments. He argues that this clause takes away from the original practice of the law to put violent offenders behind bars. He brought in a few supreme court cases but to show history and progression of the laws. The way they were written and the intents behind them verses how the laws are written and being enforced today. He does not believe the laws have been interpreted correctly but changed to fit a narrative.
Status: Bookmarked
Hallinan, Terence. "The Three Strikes Law." Sun Reporter, 28 Aug., 1997, pp. 8. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/three-strikes-law/docview/367057630/se-2.
Annotations: Hallinan is a district attorney who is running his campaign with a pledge to revise the three strikes policy to make is apply primarily to violent offenders. He claims there are already serious laws created to address nonviolent offenders and this one should be better framed to suit the real threats to public safety. He pointed out how those running against him are wring to consider nonviolent crimes as a third strike and unconstitutional to send someone to prison for stealing a pizza.
Status: Bookmarked
"Three strikes law hit by serious debate assembly considers softening three strikes law: supporters: many unjust sentences for petty offenders." Contra Costa Times, 31 Jan., 2012. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/three-strikes-law-hit-serious-debateassembly/docview/918945658/se-2.
Annotations: This article highlights that 41,000 inmates are serving time in state prison under the three-strikes law and states that even lawmakers want California citizens to revise the Three-strikes laws. Unfortunately, they are having a hard time getting the issue through legislation to be able to vote on the matter. When surveys were conducted, it was concluded that the prison system’s budgets are stretched and this is a productive way to correct. Law makes still want to prevent criminals endangering the public but what to ensure the correct people are serving for these crimes. They also propose that nonviolent third strikers could go to county jails instead of prisons to help with over crowding and stretched budgets with understaffed faculties.
Status: Bookmarked
Vitiello, Michael. "Three strikes laws." Human Rights, vol. 29, no. 2, 2002, pp. 3-5. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/trade-journals/three-strikes-laws/docview/214026164/se-2.
Annotations: Vitiello challenges the evidence that the three-strikes laws are responsible for any decline in crime rates and the small bits of evidence that might support this is coming at to high of a cost to justify. He goes back to the 1990s when the tough-on-crime era really began. He calls Californias three strike laws the “biggest penal experiment of its kind in modern American history”. He claims that the data these activists stand on cannot stand close scrutiny and the effects it has had so far are marginal. Especially when compared to the cost these laws are bringing onto the United States. I do like this article, its very aggressive.
Status: Bookmarked
Web Sources
Nellis, Ashley. “How Mandatory Minimums Perpetuate Mass Incarceration and What to Do about It.” The Sentencing Project, 14 Feb. 2024, www.sentencingproject.org/fact-sheet/how-mandatory-minimums-perpetuate-mass-incarceration-and-what-to-do-about-it/.
The Sentencing Project. The Sentencing Project. www.sentencingproject.org. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
National Institute of Justice. Key Legislative Issues in Criminal Justice: Mandatory Sentencing. U.S. Department of Justice, https://nij.ojp.gov/library/publications/key-legislative-issues-criminal-justice-mandatory-sentencing. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
Prison Policy Initiative. Prison Policy Initiative. www.prisonpolicy.org. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
Public Broadcasting
National Public Radio. “How Mandatory Minimum Sentences Affect the U.S. Justice System.” NPR, www.npr.org.
Annotations: This NPR (National Public Radio) episode discusses how mandatory minimum sentencing laws impact the criminal justice system, especially focusing on fairness, and prison population growth. It covers interviews with legal experts and those affected by these laws. Concerns about harsh sentencing and arguments about public safety are both brought up. This source will be useful because it gives a real-world perspective and includes both sides of the issue.
“Frontline.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 14 Apr. 2026, www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/.
Annotations: This is based off a documentary that examines the U.S. prison system and the role of policies that make mandatory sentencing minimums and the increase in incarceration rates. Historical context is discussed and personal stories from incarcerated individuals under the mandatory minimums are shared. The documentary highlighted the consequences of strict sentencing laws and discussed the intent behind these minimums. I would use this source to better understand the broader impact of these laws on society and the prison systems.
Prison Policy Initiative. Prison Policy Initiative. www.prisonpolicy.org
Annotations: This is a non-profit organization focused on issues related to mass incarceration and criminal justice policy in the U.S.. The Prison Policy Initiative provides data, reports and visual breakdowns to help explain how incarceration impacts individuals, communities and society. This organization also supports reform and provides data to the public and policymakers. This source will be useful because it offers current statistics and research that explains the larger impacts of policies like mandatory minimums from the three strike laws.