mandatory sentencing legal definition
Mandatory Sentence Law & Legal Definition. Mandatory sentences are those sentences which a judicial officer is required to impose regardless of the circumstances of the offense.In other words, the judicial officer has no discretion to impose a higher or lower sentence depending upon the nature of the crime.Typically, people convicted of certain crimes must be punished with at least a minimum number of years in prison.n other words, the judicial officer has no discretion to impose a higher or lower sentence depending upon the nature of the crime. Typically, people convicted of certain crimes must be punished with at least a minimum number of years in prison.