The Washington Supreme Court has upheld the current state law which requires felons to complete their sentence (including payment of all fines and restitution) before getting their voting rights back, reversing a King County trial court. The punch line is this:
We hold that Washington's disenfranchisement scheme does not violate the privileges and immunities clause of the Washington Constitution or the equal protection clause of the United States Constitution. It is the province of the legislature to determine the best policy approach for re-enfranchising Washington's felons. We also hold that respondents lack standing to bring their cross-appeal and that they are not entitled to attorney fees. We reverse the trial court.See recent opinions under Madison v. State.
UPDATE: A statement from Secretary of State Sam Reed and Attorney General Rob McKenna, who personally argued the case, is here.
Postman has more, here.
Many inmates are in prison because they lack basic skills, such as the ability to read. Many have substance abuse problems. Because of the fractured families in many low-income communities children are growing up without strong support and a stong initiation into mainstream culture. Like, how to go to work and maintain a job.
People have graduation ceremonies at different times in their lives, sometimes from elementary to middle school, high school, and college. We need to bring felons who have served their time and paid their debt to society back into society. We almost need something like the citizenship ceremonies at the Center to welcome them back.
Many groups, like the Union Gospel Mission, for example realize that integrating people back into society has to deal with the whole person. Addressing whatever demons that got them into their circumstance and then helping them make restitution for the harm they may have caused.
Limolibs generally do not care about healing the person, they want to patronize and mine votes to keep themselves in power. Former felons that I have met who have gone through the process of restoration feel better about their new position and role in society than they would have had they just been used by folks like ACORN as a convenient ballot in a rigged election.
Posted by: WVH on July 26, 2007 09:06 AMPosted by: Saltherring on July 26, 2007 01:26 PM
___________________________________
not to worry, THEY will tell him how to vote. )-:
Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on July 26, 2007 01:57 PM