Roundtable: Reentry and the Right to Vote - Civic Engagement as Rehabilitation

Session Submission Type: Roundtable Sessions

Abstract/Description

The disenfranchisement of individuals with felony convictions remains a pressing issue at the intersection of criminal justice and democratic participation. This roundtable will explore the legal, political, and social dimensions of restoring voting rights to justice-involved individuals. Panelists will discuss the historical and contemporary barriers to reenfranchisement, the impact of voting restrictions, and the role of civic engagement in the reentry process. Special attention will be given to recent literature regarding reenfranchisement's effect on recidivism, policy changes, grassroots advocacy efforts, and the broader implications of restoration of voting rights for democracy and social integration. By fostering an interdisciplinary conversation, this discussion seeks to reframe voting rights as a cornerstone of citizenship and rehabilitation.

Sub Unit

• Area XIV. Roundtables

Chair

• Jonathan Morgan, University of Cincinnati

Discussants

• Tomas Rafael Montalvo, None

• Guy Hamilton-Smith, Law Office of Guy Hamilton-Smith

• Jennifer M. Ortiz, The College of New Jersey

Organized by a Division or external group?

Convict Criminology