Disenfranchisement In Prisons

In modern America, prisons have become a controversial topic that is prevalent throughout various forms of media, political debates, and social discussions. During the numerous debates of the 2016 presidential primaries, politicians argued about how the prison population has grown rapidly to approximately two million people. In news programs and newspapers, there are extensive reports about the quality of the conditions in various prisons. In several popular television shows and movies, there are diverse sets of characters who struggle to survive daily life in prison. Although there are several conversations about prisons, an aspect that is frequently forgotten is the rights of current and former prisoners. Because of certain laws, when an individual is convicted of a crime, he or she loses
Legal, an online legal dictionary, there is a clear definition: “[Felony disenfranchisement] refers to the prohibition of one person from voting on the reason that [he or she] has been convicted of a felony” (U.S. Legal, 2006). In the same definition, it also states, “This is against the right of universal suffrage” (U.S. Legal, 2006). In their 2005 academic research paper about the voting rights of felons, Criminal Disenfranchisement, professors Christopher Uggen, Angela Behrens, and Jeff Manza, from The University of Minnesota and Northwestern University, defined felony disenfranchisement as “the practice of removing the right to vote upon conviction for a felony-level offense” (Uggen, Behrens, & Manza, 2005). Although I agree with both definitions, the second definition is more concise and appropriate for this essay. However, both definitions fail to express the severity of felony disenfranchisement laws and the length of time that these types of laws affect felons. I define felony disenfranchisement as the restriction of a felon’s voting rights, by state or federal government, during his or her incarnation, parole, probation, and