Drug Sentencing Exploitation

Drug sentencing exploitation refers to the manipulation of legal systems that occurs when individuals or groups take advantage of overly harsh drug laws to impose severe penalties, often disproportionately affecting marginalized communities. This exploitation can manifest through practices like plea bargaining, where defendants may plead guilty to lesser offenses to avoid harsher sentences, even if they are innocent. Additionally, mandatory minimum sentences can discourage judges from considering individual circumstances, leading to unfair penalties. Overall, this exploitation highlights systemic issues in how drug offenses are handled, often resulting in inequities in justice and social impact.