NCJ Number
172166
Journal
International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice Volume: 21 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1997) Pages: 141-150
Date Published
1997
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This article examines State and Federal statutes to determine current legal procedures available for restoring a convicted felon's civil rights.
Abstract
Findings report virtually no changes in legal codes over the past 10 years by States to increase pardons, expungement, or automatic restoration of rights opportunities for former offenders. Southern States continue to be most restrictive of civil and legal rights, given the few legal mechanisms to remove the effects of a felony conviction. Perhaps conservative get-tough policies that emerged in the early 1980s have constrained any additional statutory relief for offenders to restore lost rights. In addition, there has been widespread legislative support at State and Federal levels to formalize barriers for certain convicted felons. For example, the majority of States now require lengthy registration and community notification long after conviction and completion of sentence for sex offenders. The absence of legislative remedies may also be attributed to the notion that, for offenders, there are no constituents arguing their position in a time when correctional policies are geared toward increased prison construction and lengthened prison terms for offenders. Table, references