Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice Advisory Council

Disenfranchising people with criminal convictions provides no legitimate law enforcement purpose. In fact, restoring voting rights is sound policy from a law enforcement perspective. A critical element of protecting public safety is reducing recidivism through successful reentry of former offenders into their communities. Disenfranchising this population hinders reintegration back into society because it fosters second-class citizenship, while restoring voting rights can help promote civic engagement and pro-social behaviors helpful to the reentry process.

On June 8th, 2007 the Brennan Center held a convening of law enforcement and criminal justice allies. Click here to read more about the Convening and the Advisory Council.

Click here to read more about resolutions passed by law enforcement and criminal justice organizations in favor of voting rights restoration. 

Our allies have also written numerous articles and letters in favor of voting rights restoration. Click here to read about recent advocacy efforts.  


Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Convening


On June 8, 2007 the Brennan Center held a groundbreaking convening of law enforcement and criminal justice leaders from across the country to discuss the relationship between voting, successful reintegration, and public safety. After the day-long program, many of the convening participants agreed to come together and join the Brennan Center's campaign to restore voting rights to people with felony convictions.

We have harnessed the energy and enthusiasm created by the convening in a newly formed Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice Advisory Council, which will continue work closely with the Brennan Center on both a local and national level. 

Current members include:

 

Resolutions


In October 2007, Advisory Council members helped pass an American Probation and Parole Association resolution in favor of restoring voting rights to people upon release from prison. In April 2008, Advisory Council members helped pass an Association of Paroling Authorities International resolution that endorsed voting rights restoration and encouraged paroling authorities to participate in the passage and implementation of laws that engage former offenders in the civic discourse. In June 2008, the National Black Police Association passed a resolution in favor of the automatic restoration of voting rights upon release from prison.  

 

Advocacy Efforts


Our partners in the law enforcement and criminal justice community continue to be strong allies. Miami Police Chief John F. Timoney, a member of our Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Advisory Council and President of the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), recently wrote to PERF members that he hoped President Obama would pay serious attention to two compelling issues: restoring voting rights to people with felony convictions and fixing the disparity in federal crack cocaine sentencing guidelines.

Washington

Seattle Police Chief R. Gil Kerlikowske (Obama's new drug czar) co-authored an editorial with John Lovick, Snohomish County Sheriff, in support of legislation in Washington State that would eliminate the requirement that individuals must pay all legal financial obligations to be restored the right to vote, and automatically restores the right to vote to people who have completed their sentence.  The National Black Police Association and the American Probation and Parole Association wrote letters to the Governor in support of the bill. On May 4, 2009, Governor Gregorie signed the bill into law. The success of the bill can be attributed to the support of our law enforcement allies: three former law enforcement officers who are now legislators declared during the floor debate that while they had voted against the bill in the past, this year they were supporting the legislation.

Kentucky

In March 2008, APPA Executive Director Carl Wicklund published in the Lexington Herald-Leader in support of recent reforms in Kentucky. He also made submitted comments to the Kentucky Advisory Committee to the US Commission on Civil Rights urging the Commission take steps to reform Kentucky's draconian disenfranchisement laws.

Virginia 

APPA's Carl Wicklund, teamed up with the Brennan Center to submitt letters in support of voting rights restoration to individuals who have committed non-violent felonies to Delegates Mark Cole, Frank Hargrove, and Riley Ingram. 

New York

In April 2009, retired Brooklyn Bureau Chief Leonard Marks testified with Brennan Center's Erika Wood,  before the N.Y. Senate Elections Committee in support of the Voting Rights Notification and Registration Act.  In his testimony, Mr. Marks emphasized the link between voting and an individual's successful re-entry.