Final answer:
In the 1990s, "tough on crime" candidates led to the enactment of stiffer penalties for crimes and limited judicial discretion in sentencing, highlighted by laws like California's "three strikes" law and the 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act.
Step-by-step explanation:
The election of "tough on crime" candidates in the 1990s led to significant changes in the criminal justice system. State legislatures, motivated by a wave of social and political conservatism, enacted stiffer penalties for crimes and also limited judges' abilities to reduce sentences, particularly for nonviolent offenses and first-time offenders.
During this period, California introduced the notorious "three strikes" law, which mandated life imprisonment without parole for a third felony conviction. The 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, seen as the largest Federal crime law ever enacted, was a hallmark of this era, with its new penalties, funding, and aggressive law enforcement incentives.
Alongside these legal changes, there was a cultural shift towards a law and order approach prompted by fears of drug-related crime, particularly crack cocaine. This resulted in harsher laws, which have since been criticized for their impact on racial and ethnic minorities, contributing to inequitable mass incarceration and racially motivated policing.