Civil Rights for Convicted Felons

Convicted felons may have their civil rights taken away.

In the United States, convicted felons may be stripped of some of their civil rights in order to help deter future criminal behavior. The most common civil right taken away from convicted felons is the right to vote.

Types

Each state provides specific rules that describe which privileges a felon may lose once the felon is found guilty. Some states permanently deny criminals their right to vote and some restore voting privileges by petition. Other common rights that are taken away from felons are the right to bear arms and the right to hold public office.

Pardons

States such as Iowa may require the felon to obtain an official act of pardon from the state's governor before a felon's civil rights are restored.

Considerations

Civil liberties advocates, like the American Civil Liberties Union, oppose these types of laws, asserting they disproportionately affect minority groups. Other opponents cite policy concerns for law-abiding Americans who are wrongly placed on "purge lists," which effectively strip them of their right to vote.

References

• American Bar Association: Felon Disenfranchisement

Resources

• National Conference of State Legislatures: Voting Rights Restoration Process