By Esther Carenza ( June 7, 2018, 2:25 PM EDT) -- Mandatory minimum sentences are predefined terms for particular crimes, generally serious and violent offences enacted by the legislature where the judiciary has no discretion on the penalties despite extenuating circumstances. Varying across nations, mandatory minimum penalties are prevalent in common law jurisdictions and the first to introduce them for a drug related offence was the United States in the Boggs Act of 1951. Over the years, the U.S. mandatory minimums have been amended. The Harper government then introduced them with their “tough on crime” measures....