Annotated Bibliography - Felon Disenfranchisement in the United States

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Robinson

Becca Robinson

6 March, 2012

EN 102

Professor Miller

Felon Disenfranchisement in the United States

Campbell, Michael C. "Criminal Disenfranchisement Reform in California." Punishment & Society 9.2 (2007): 177-199. Academic Search Premier. Web. 27 Feb. 2012.

                The United States denies voting rights to ex-convicts, parolees, probationers and prisoners on a scale incomparable among democratic nations. State laws concerning voting eligibility differ from no disenfranchisement in some states, to permanent disenfranchisement in others. Little historical research exists explaining how and why certain states have retained disenfranchisement while others have revised these laws. This article discusses California as a seemingly excellent example of reform in order to improve current explanations of disenfranchisement. Through widespread research and a content analysis of a key media source, this article explains how and why California changed its disenfranchisement laws in 1974. The results suggest that repeal of disenfranchisement may be related to the actions and framing strategies of reformers and the presence of advocacy organization. The article discusses which states currently practice felon disenfranchisement making it a great reference when needing examples and statistics on the topic.

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Dinan, John. "The Adoption of Criminal Disenfranchisement Provisions in the United States: Lessons from the State Constitutional Convention Debates." Journal of Policy History 19.3 (2007): 282-312. Academic Search Premier. Web. 27 Feb. 2012.

        Dinan discusses the importance of examining debate records associated with the approval of criminal disenfranchisement provisions in the United States. A study that focuses on these debates may provide a good chance for the various justifications for state criminal disenfranchisement provisions throughout the American history to prevail. It may also trigger other people to launch further inquiries regarding criminal disenfranchisement for more information so that it may be used as guide in the U.S. Congress.  Also discussed in the article is that state convention delegates have engaged in continuous debate about the merits of these provisions. One argument voiced frequently by supporters of criminal disenfranchisement is that it is a fitting punishment for certain forms of criminal behavior and might also decrease crime rates in the future. The text covers who have researched criminal disenfranchisement and what they intended to do with that research. This information could definitely be used in an argument or proposal concerning the practice.

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Ewald, Alec C. "Criminal Disenfranchisement and the Challenge of American Federalism." Publius: The Journal of Federalism 39.3 (2009): 527-556. Academic Search Premier. Web. 27 Feb. 2012.

In the article, Ewald reviews recent developments in the American felony disenfranchisement laws. The variables' that play a deciding role in a state’s likelihood of enacting reform is examined. He believes initial policy strictness is a strong predictor of restriction-relaxing change, as most of the dozen states that have passed reforms on felony disenfranchisement in the last decade began with very restrictive policies. It is argues that entrepreneurship by African American and Democratic ...

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