Returning Offenders, Communities, Disenfranchisement

Returning offenders: VOLUME
1980: 150,000 a year
2001: 600,000 or 1,600 a DAY
More than the population of DC

Characteristics the same as 1980
Mostly male
Mostly low income, low education
Mostly populations of color
Lots of substance abuse problems

Geographic Distribution
High return rates in following neighborhoods:
Inner City
Low Income
Population of color
Neighborhood stress

Removal Rate
Each year: portion of those removed from community and incarcerated

Return Rate
Each year: portion of those returned from incarceration to community

Impacts of hi removal and return rates
Family destabilization
	Stable pair bonds are threatened
Fewer parents available for kids/teens
	1.5 million kids of color with one parent in prison
Community weakening
	Politically 
	Social ties and local social networks - these are an important part
	of the local community "glue"

Political Disenfranchisement
DEFINITION: Offender, either after release from prison, or while on parole or 
probation, loses citizenship rights, for a period of time 

Voting 
Lifelong loss voting rights, ex-prisoner: 12 states
Probationers/Parolees: Barred from voting: 32 states
One in four—African American men have lost the right to vote for life 
in AL, FL IA, MS, NM, VA,  WY.

Florida: Cumulative Impacts of Ex-felons’ disenfranchisement rate
10% Voting Age African Americans (167,000)
4.4% Non-African-Americans
Racially disproportionate effect

Johnson et al v. Bush et al.
Civil Case
Ex-felon disenfranchisement rule violates the Voting Rights Act
Result = particular Racial group less opportunity to participate

Statistical Evidence
Disproportionality NOT due to disproportional criminal involvement by race
Other CJS operations contribute
Profiling
Prosecutorial discretion
Sentencing policies

Chiricos and Ginger: Racial makeup of CONVICTION pool does not 
match racial makeup of ARREST pool
Highest disparities for crimes where most discretion
Drugs
Weapon offenses
Disparities Geographically Patterned
Highest in Northern Part of State

Community-Returnee: Areas of Joint Interest
Health care, 
Housing needs, 
Family reunification,
Religious connections, 
Support systems, 
Expectations for law-abiding behavior
Stable employment