John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight target on Sunday was America’s mandatory minimum sentencing laws requiring judges to punish certain crimes with a minimum number of years in prison regardless of context.
“Context is important,” explained Oliver. “For instance, shouting the phrase ‘I’m coming!’ when catching a bus but not okay when you’re already on the bus.”
In the segment, Oliver zeroed in on how mandatory minimums have destroyed the lives of a large number of nonviolent drug offenders and disproportionately affected minorities.
He also explained how prison sentences are a lot like penises: “If they’re used correctly, even a short one can do the trick.”
