Issues with mandatory sentencing laws

Suppose that the U.S. Congress passed a new law that punished
shoplifting with a mandatory eighty-five year prison term. What would be
the impact of the new law on shoplifting nationwide? Would such a harsh
law be justified by its deterrent effect? What about imposing a
similarly extreme punishment on a more serious crime – a mandatory
sentence of life in prison or, say, drunk driving? Would such a law be
in society’s best interest? Why or why not?
Note: You are being required to write an essay
between 1,000-1,500 words in length, not including your abstract, cover
page and reference page. The essays will be written in APA format and
style.