A story on the Right on Crime website indicates that some states are rethinking the policy of mandating minimum sentences for some offenses.
Initially, it was thought that such policies would serve as a deterrence for crime. Not only has this proven not to be the case, but states that have enacted such measures are experiencing increased costs for incarceration and crowded prisons. Community supervision programs are often more effective in reducing future criminal activity, and can be done at a much lower cost to taxpayers.
The Right on Crime article is available here. More information on mandatory minimums can be found on the Justice Fellowship website.