Civic Re-engagement, Community & Voting Rights for Ex-Inmates: Policy Issues
Abstract
For most people, incarceration often means a sense of loss of family, friends, community networks, and connections. Upon return, former inmates struggle to “fit in” and be accepted not just by mainstream society but also by their old neighborhood, family, and friends. Several issues immediately arise for returning inmates attempting to make a successful reentry into society: restoration of civil identity, voting rights, expungement of records (where appropriate and possible), and community acceptance. All these issues coalesce around the necessity of effective community reentry programs.