We seem to be coming full circle. Since being tough on crime is a natural position for most politicians, vast numbers of statutes imposing long mandatory sentences for a variety of crimes are pouring forth from our state and federal legislatures. And as once happened in England, many of our judges, defense attorneys and even a few compassionate prosecutors are now busy finding ways around these new laws in situations where the results are simply too harsh to countenance. And, predictably, our criminal justice system grows ever more complex.