Felon Disenfranchisement and the Racial Contract

1069 Words3 Pages

Felon disenfranchisement laws exclude ex-felons from exercising constitutional rights, like the right to vote exclusively denying them full citizenship. While the laws are intended to be neutral restrictions that exclude members of the ex-felon status group, these laws unfairly treat African-Americans. Statistically speaking one point four Million African- Americans are disenfranchised (Federal Probation a Journal of Correctional Philosophy and Practice). In addition, the denial of ex-felons rights not only impacts ex-felons, but also has a detrimental impact on the communities of which they reside. The Judicial system and society have made it hard to be a convicted felon and be accepted as a productive member of society, almost as if they’re not a part of the human race. The proven restriction: felons have no right to vote. The restrictions placed on felons after their release can be the foundation of further jeopardy and more jail terms. Instead of putting all the stipulations and restrictions on one’s freedom why not help an ex-felon work up to be a law -abiding citizen once proven award them rights one by one and see the outcome.

However, while the right to vote is exercised at certain time periods the rights to earn a living and support their families are obstacles that ex-felons face every day. According to the Sentencing Project, a Washington, D.C. organization that studies criminal justice policies, an estimated three point nine million Americans, or one in fifty adults, have lost the right to vote as a result of a felony conviction. (Felon Disenfranchisement: the Modern Day Poll Tax).Thirty-two out of our fifty states ban paroles from voting all together. Another two states ban former inmates from voting after their ...

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...countries job as republicans and democrats and a congress and people of all walks of life to wake up and smell the coffee. If we had more minorities in the polls voting on Election Day all the right votes would stop going to the wrong people (Bush) for instance. Society is hindering felons instead of helping them it’s time to make a stance and reward felons that have been rehabilitated and hold steady jobs and have had know reoccurring charges with their constitutional right to vote.

Works Citied

‘’Advocacy Toolkit ''Standards for hiring people with Criminal records 3 Mar.2010

'' ProCon.org''. 2008 Election 3 Mar. 2010 http://2008election.procon.org/

‘’ Salary caps’’ role restrictions or bans for convicted felons 3 Mar. 2010

US Department of Justice 3 Mar. 2010

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