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Academic Journal of Legal Studies and Research
Vol. 8 No. 2 (2023): March-April
Original Articles

"FELONS BEHIND BARS AND BALLOTS: EXAMINING CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS RESTRICTIONS"

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  • Dr. James A. Mitchell ,
  • Dr. Sarah E. Reynolds
Dr. James A. Mitchell
Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, Washington State University, USA.
Dr. Sarah E. Reynolds
Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, Washington State University, USA.

Published 2023-09-21

Keywords

  • Felon disenfranchisement,
  • Citizenship rights,
  • Criminal justice,
  • Recidivism,
  • State policies

How to Cite

Mitchell , J. A., & Reynolds, S. E. (2023). "FELONS BEHIND BARS AND BALLOTS: EXAMINING CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS RESTRICTIONS". Academic Journal of Legal Studies and Research, 8(2), 1–25. Retrieved from http://topjournals.org/index.php/AJLSR/article/view/629

Copyright (c) 2023 Academic Journal of Legal Studies and Research

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Abstract

Felon disenfranchisement is a pervasive issue in modern democracies, with the United States standing out as one of the last democratic nations to impose such restrictions on felons. Beyond the right to vote, it also curtails felons' ability to hold public office and serve on juries. These limitations, often referred to as "collateral consequences," have a profound impact on the administration of justice and elections. This paper delves into how and when states restrict three vital citizenship rights for felons: voting, holding public office, and participating in juries. The authors argue that these rights are crucial for successful reintegration into society post-incarceration. While direct evidence linking disenfranchisement to lower recidivism rates is limited, the paper examines the prevalence of these barriers across states and explores regional disparities. Additionally, it investigates whether a state's political composition plays a role in denying these fundamental rights

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