Disenfranchised voters

[domenick2x]

In forty-six states and the District of Columbia, criminal disenfranchisement laws deny the vote to all convicted adults in prison. Thirty-two states also disenfranchise felons on parole; twenty-nine disenfranchise those on probation. And, due to laws that may be unique in the world, in fourteen states even ex-offenders who have fully served their sentences remain barred for life from voting.

http://www.hrw.org/reports98/vote/usvot98o.htm

Don't get me wrong, those people who are currently serving their sentence shouldn't (imo) get the right to vote. However, I'd think that those who HAVE fully served their sentence SHOULD have the right to vote.

Certain rights should, in the interest of public safety, be limited bas?ed on actions of the citizen. For example, I find it hard to accept that a violent felon should still be extended the right to own a gun (though I can also think of other arguments against that point).

But the right to vote is the core one for our system - even before free speech.

Thoughts?

[Vegas]

I like the current law where committing a felony means you give up your right to vote and your right to own a gun. And felons shouldn't sit on juries either.

[KinjaKahn]

Its funny how the article implies racism as a motive... Gee its not fair that so many blacks are felons...

· 1.4 million African American men, or 13 percent of the black adult male population, are disenfranchised, reflecting a rate of disenfranchisement that is seven times the national average. More than one-third (36 percent) of the total disenfranchised population are black men.
So which do ya want to believe... Black are convicted more, they just commit more crime, or less crime and are framed alot. DOJ stats show murdered whites are six times more likely to have been murdered by a black than a white, and Blacks are much less likely to be murdered by whites... "much less likely" meaning RARE... comparatively... something like 500 to 1, of course this is all based on convictions... Don't ask for a link... only the numbers are published, you do the crunching...

Another odd point... Maine, Massachusetts, Utah, and Vermont allow voting while in Prison.

[thejerseydevil]

So which do ya want to believe... Black are convicted more, they just commit more crime, or less crime and are framed alot.

Tell use which you want to believe.

Please, this should be great.

[KinjaKahn]

Tell use which you want to believe.

Please, this should be great.
I live in a City that is 88% black. Explain to me how your cities demographics give you a more clear perspective.

[FatDumbOxycontinAbuser]

I live in a City that is 88% black. Explain to me how your cities demographics give you a more clear perspective.

Is this like the "I have plenty of black friends" argument?

[KinjaKahn]

Is this like the "I have plenty of black friends" argument?LOL comprehension fail. Go make some real black friends. The kind that actually have long drawn out conversations, the kind where you know know the way to their bathroom, and the kind you don't have to be scared to approach subjects with. They will tell you the truth. The black community is in disarray. They don't have the answer. But to sit there and run from the problem... and dump welfare money on them and hope... aka the democrat policy... doesn't work.

[becherr]

I think in allot of states a felon has to "Apply" to regain the right to vote. From what I see where I work there aren't that many that would have the foresite or conscern to apply themselved to that endevour.

[thejerseydevil]

I live in a City that is 88% black. Explain to me how your cities demographics give you a more clear perspective.

What city is that?

[thejerseydevil]

LOL comprehension fail. Go make some real black friends. The kind that actually have long drawn out conversations, the kind where you know know the way to their bathroom, and the kind you don't have to be scared to approach subjects with. They will tell you the truth.

The type that can have an intelligent conversation aren't the ones you need to be asking. They're as far removed from the situation as you are.

The black community is in disarray. They don't have the answer. But to sit there and run from the problem... and dump welfare money on them and hope... aka the democrat policy... doesn't work.

The Republican policy is "we don't have the answer but we know it's not what the Dems prefer to do"?

[kydoty]

The Republican policy is "we don't have the answer but we know it's not what the Dems prefer to do"?

The Democratic method is to throw money at the problem and hope it goes away.

The Republican method is to pretend that the problem doesn't exist.

It goes without saying, but neither method is effective in the least.

[KinjaKahn]

The type that can have an intelligent conversation aren't the ones you need to be asking. They're as far removed from the situation as you are.
Wow.


The Republican policy is "we don't have the answer but we know it's not what the Dems prefer to do"?The answer is tough love. Self reliance and to shoot pieces of shit like you who judge a persons intellect and societal value on circumstance.

[FatDumbOxycontinAbuser]

What city is that?


think biggest shithole in America.

No wonder the guy is so angry.

[pukematrixx]

think biggest shithole in America.

No wonder the guy is so angry.

Dislike this post, I love the D and wish I could still live there.

Back to topic, it depends for me Dom, I'd need prove these voters are privy to the same information we non prisoned folks to ensure an informed decision.

I don't have a big issue with them non voting though, you fuck up you pay, it is what it is.

[domenick2x]

Dislike this post, I love the D and wish I could still live there.

Back to topic, it depends for me Dom, I'd need prove these voters are privy to the same information we non prisoned folks to ensure an informed decision.

I don't have a big issue with them non voting though, you fuck up you pay, it is what it is.
I'd argue that once they pay their debt to society, they should regain the right to vote.

It may require application, or a citizenship test, or something like that.

Voting while in prison seems a little crazy to me.

[pukematrixx]

I'd argue that once they pay their debt to society, they should regain the right to vote.

It may require application, or a citizenship test, or something like that.

Voting while in prison seems a little crazy to me.

I'm on board with this, I don't believe in the once a felon always a felon argument

[domenick2x]

I'm on board with this, I don't believe in the once a felon always a felon argument
How about gun ownership for 'former felons'?

[thejerseydevil]

The answer is tough love. Self reliance and to shoot pieces of shit like you who judge a persons intellect and societal value on circumstance.

Your answer is ignorance.

Genius!

[thejerseydevil]

think biggest shithole in America.

No wonder the guy is so angry.

Tough love doesn't seem to be working there.

Perhaps the schools do need text books?

[thejerseydevil]

I live in a City that is 88% black. Explain to me how your cities demographics give you a more clear perspective.

fyi - Your city 88% minority.

And if you went to public school there, I'd accept you might have a fair perspective. If you volunteered in the community, I'd accept you'd have a fair perspective. Etc, etc.

[Vegas]

I'd argue that once they pay their debt to society, they should regain the right to vote.

It may require application, or a citizenship test, or something like that.

Voting while in prison seems a little crazy to me.

Should convicted felons sit on juries?

[hannitykillspuppies]

Should convicted felons sit on juries?
do you think they can't be objective?

[pnkpanther]

Should convicted felons sit on juries?


Are cop's allowed on Juries? (I really dont know)

[thejerseydevil]

Are cop's allowed on Juries? (I really dont know)

Years ago = no.

Recently = yes.

[Vegas]

Are cop's allowed on Juries? (I really dont know)

They can get on a panel but get disqualified right away. The same thing happens with judges.

[thejerseydevil]

They can get on a panel but get disqualified right away. The same thing happens with judges.

Plenty of officers serve on juries these days.

[domenick2x]

Should convicted felons sit on juries?
That's a damned good question. I see where (like in the example of cops and judges) that they might be called, but not seated. I'd like to think, in my idealist moments, that they can be impartial and serve. I realize how that can't really work, though.

[KinjaKahn]

I would say 15 years after a felons "debt to society" has been paid... with only one felonious transgression on their record, full rights should be restored. More than one felony, provided they didn't happen at the same time/day, I would say no. Learning from mistakes is key. A felon with a 15+ yr old conviction shouldn't really be considered a recidivist risk, I would bet the odds that a felon screws up/commits another felony, after 15+ years are on par with someone who hasn't had a felony conviction.

[Vegas]

Plenty of officers serve on juries these days.

In civil cases? I can't fathom a cop sitting on a jury in a criminal trial.

[domenick2x]

I would say 15 years after a felons "debt to society" has been paid... with only one felonious transgression on their record, full rights should be restored. More than one felony, provided they didn't happen at the same time/day, I would say no. Learning from mistakes is key. A felon with a 15+ yr old conviction shouldn't really be considered a recidivist risk, I would bet the odds that a felon screws up/commits another felony, after 15+ years are on par with someone who hasn't had a felony conviction.
That's a nice solution. I might push for 10 years, but the concern of recidivism is a real one.

[domenick2x]

In civil cases? I can't fathom a cop sitting on a jury in a criminal trial.
I think the 2nd question on the form about serving was about being close to, or related to, anyone in the DAs office or Police department.

[Vegas]

I think the 2nd question on the form about serving was about being close to, or related to, anyone in the DAs office or Police department.

I have a real good friend whose late father was a prominent attorney in Milwaukee. My friend has been called in for jury duty several times and excused every time when they asked if he was related to his father.

[Iron Jaw]

I'm on board with this, I don't believe in the once a felon always a felon argument

Except, the recedivism rate is awfully high for convicted felons. 69% are re-arrseted within three years and 52 percent return to prison within the same time period.

[Iron Jaw]

Plenty of officers serve on juries these days.

I have never been allowed to serve on a jury, despite being called for jury duty about 16 times over the years. The reason - I'm a federal agent. The attorneys for the defense normally do not want me on the jury. If the charged subject is another law enforcement officer, the prosecutor does not want me on the jury.

[thejerseydevil]

Years ago, I was excused by telling 'em a family member was a cop. Now it just doesn't matter.
My wife served on a jury with a cop.


I agree, it must be pretty rare of criminal cases.