RESOLUTION ON RESTORING VOTING RIGHTS

WHEREAS, several jurisdictions continue to disenfranchise people with felony convictions who are out of prison and living in the community, and

WHEREAS, the membership of the Association of Paroling Authorities International recognizes that continuing to disenfranchise individuals after conviction or release from prison is inconsistent with criminal justice policy and violates core principles of democracy and equality; and

WHEREAS, the Association acknowledges that it must seek new and effective ways to foster reintegration back into the community and prevent a return to criminal ways; and

WHEREAS, the Association believes that bringing people into the political process makes them stakeholders in the community and helps facilitate pro social behavior; and

WHEREAS, the Association recognizes that restoring voting rights helps rebuild families and empower communities; and

WHEREAS, the Association believes that restoring voting rights to people who have been released from prison and are living in the community is good criminal justice policy; and

WHEREAS, the Association recognizes there are differing sentence structures within jurisdictions, thus the timing of voting rights restoration will be different among jurisdictions;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Association of Paroling Authorities International supports the restoration of voting rights for offenders reentering the community and encourages the participation of paroling authorities in the passage and implementation of laws that engage former offenders in the civic discourse.

Adopted April 30, 2008