In New Jersey organizers are advocating for full enfranchisement through the traditional legislative process. New Jersey has been working on this effort for nearly two years. Senate Bill 2100 was introduced March 5, 2018 by Senator Ronald Rice. It currently has several cosponsors including Sen. Cunningham, Sen. Cruz-Perez and Sen. Diegnan. The bill would reenfranchise […]
In Massachusetts organizers aren’t waiting on legislators to understand the importance of incarcerated citizens having voting rights. Earlier this year in January S.12 was introduced by Senator Adam Hinds in partnership with Emancipation Initiative. The bill would have amended the state constitution to remove the phrase, “excepting persons who are incarcerated in a correctional facility due to […]
There are many critical aspects of Michigan’s department of corrections that are in need of reform. There are tens of thousands of people that suffer from the plethora of issues including prisoners themselves as well as their families and allies. While there are many people who recognize these issues, there aren’t many spaces to come together and discuss potential solutions […]
This time last year thousands of prisoners were buckling down in preparation for a national demonstration that would, not only put their jobs at stake, but that also put many lives on the line. All in an attempt to raise awareness about the oppressive, destitute conditions of United States prisons. Incarcerated citizens united Nationwide across dozens of […]
Felony disenfranchisement plagues people suffering from mass incarceration in a number of ways. These include people imprisoned in 48 of 50 states and those released from prison in 18 states. People often forget that these are not the only way that people are disenfranchised by the effects of the corrections department. While incarcerated in jails […]
This summer multiple candidates have rolled out comprehensive plans to reform America’s desperately ineffective, overcrowded Criminal Justice system. For decades prisoners, their families, allies and advocating organizations have been pleading with officials to make Criminal Justice Reform a national priority. Until the current race there hasn’t been a presidential candidate willing to make transformative reforms […]
It seems at though Washington was serious about increasing civic engagement for those impacted by incarceration throughout the state. At the very beginning of this year two voting rights bills were introduced, SB 5076 was introduced by Senator Patty Kuderer. The bill would restore voting rights to over 90,000 individuals on community custody. It quickly […]
California has historically been a leader in reversing the symptoms of Jim Crow laws that continue to exist in the United States. These Laws restricted Blacks from securing housing and exercising their voting rights. The federal government turned a blind eye to the local and state laws that reenforced slave conditions on the newly freed population and many states took […]
Several of the candidates had inclusive opening statements that made me question their authenticity. Bill De Blasio (NY) wants to “make a country that puts the working people first”, Tulsi Gabbard (HA), stated that she intended to, “fight for the rights of all Americans”, Kristen Gillibrand (NY) emphasized, “When are civil rights convenient?” and Joe […]
The conditions that people suffer in Immigrant Detention centers didn’t just pop up for immigrants. The methods of arrest for people threatened by ICE aren’t new either. These are conditions of apprehension and incarceration have been inflicted on citizens in the United States, mainly minorities, for years. How can we expect these conditions to be […]