Mandatory prison sentences, or mandatory minimums, require people convicted of certain crimes, often drug related, to serve a set amount of time in prison for their offense from different political party stances. Historically, most major mandatory sentencing regulations have been introduced by Republican lawmakers. Furthermore, the 2016 Republican Party Platform briefly expressed support for mandatory minimums, praising them as an important and effective tool for ensuring public safety. Recent public polling, however, indicates that Americans are broadly opposed to mandatory prison sentences, regardless of their party affiliation. While Democrats are still more inclined than their Republican counterparts to oppose mandatory sentencing (83% oppose), a steady majority of Republican voters (66%) would support eliminating mandatory minimums.