Corrections_Today_May_June_2020_Vol.82_No.3

Policies and Resolutions

each allegation and the resolution of the allegation.

C. Developing protocols for federal, state, and local correctional agencies that in- form inmates near their release about the means by which their voting rights will be restored and provide education and as- sistance to felony offenders in completing the restoration process to regain their civil rights; and D. Developing state election agency proce- dures that permit eligible felony offenders to vote in elections after completing and filing all necessary paperwork. Public Correctional Policy on Criminal Sentencing and Early Release From Confinement Introduction: Changes in U.S. sentencing policies have been a major cause of an unprecedented increase in the prison population. The sentencing objective should attempt to control crime as much as possible, at the lowest cost to taxpayers and in the least restrictive environment consistent with public safety. There should be a balanced consideration of all sentenc- ing objectives. Sentencing policy today takes many forms. In some venues, legislatures have taken authority over policy, leaving little discretion in the sentenc- ing of individual offenders to the judiciary. Under these circumstances “sentencing” discretion is shifted to the prosecutors and takes the form of plea bargaining and charge selection. In others, judges and parole boards retain wide discretion on a case-by-case basis. In still others, sentencing commissions have been given responsibility for defining how offenders are punished. Regardless of the form, sentencing policy directly affects what the correctional practitioner does on a daily basis, and to the extent that this policy fails in fairness and rationality, then correctional practice is ad- versely affected.

Public Correctional Policy on Restoration of Voting Rights for Felony Offenders Introduction: People convicted of crimes are expected to become responsible citizens after being discharged from correctional supervision. However, many individuals are excluded from exercising their civic rights because they are banned from vot- ing in many jurisdictions. The laws that prohibit offenders from voting, even after they have been discharged from correctional supervision, frustrate the offenders in their attempts to fully reenter so- ciety successfully, reduce the voting constituency, and disproportionately exclude a large number of people from participating fully in society. Nearly all states place some form of restriction on felon voting rights. Some states have developed processes to restore voting rights, but many felons are unaware of them, do not present the proper documentation, or the processes are often cumber- some and discourage voting. Policy Statement: The American Correctional Association affirms that voting is a fundamental right in a democracy and it considers a ban on voting after a felon is discharged from correctional supervision to be contradictory to the goals of a democracy, the re- habilitation of felons, and their successful reentry to the community. Therefore, ACA advocates: A. Restoring voting rights for felony offend- ers upon the completion of their sentence; B. Encouraging restoration of voting rights for those on community supervision;

96 — May/June 2020 Corrections Today