Florida House passes bill allowing ex-felon voting rights

Legislation to restore voting rights to convicted felons except murderers and felony sex offenders has passed the Florida House. The Republican-dominated House voted 71-45 Wednesday for the bill that would implement a constitutional amendment approved by voters last November. The main issue is whether legislation is needed at all, and whether the bill sets up unnecessary hurdles for ex-felons such…

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1 in 55 U.S. Adults Is on Probation or Parole

More than a decade ago, policymakers around the country seeking to protect public safety, improve accountability, and save taxpayer dollars initiated a wave of bipartisan reforms that has reduced the number of people behind bars in many states. Because of their high costs and visibility, prisons garnered substantial public attention on criminal justice, while relatively little was paid to the largest…

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Parole board chair switches from arresting to releasing offenders

The caseload keeping him busy is one of several things Kenny Jones likes about his role as chairman of Missouri’s Board of Probation and Parole. As of right now, the (normally) seven-member board, which falls under the state Department of Corrections, is down to five because of retirements. “The more people who look at a case, the better,” Jones said,…

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Sex offenders register for a lifetime, but a bill would let some petition for removal

JEFFERSON CITY— Almost all sex offenders in Missouri are on a state registry for a lifetime, whether they made a one-time mistake, or made repeated or extreme offenses. Rep. Kurt Bahr, R-St. Charles, wants to make it possible for certain people to petition to remove their name from the list and for the registry to be more transparent for the…

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Restoration of Rights Project

CCRC and its partner organizations NACDL, NLADA and the National HIRE Network are pleased to offer a state-by-state analysis of the law and practice in each U.S. jurisdiction relating to restoration of rights and status following arrest or conviction. These jurisdictional “profiles” cover areas such as loss and restoration of civil rights and firearms rights, judicial and executive mechanisms for avoiding…

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Colorado’s pricey polygraph testing of under fire

Colorado’s pricey polygraph testing of sex offenders under fire as critics target accuracy, expense Psychologist calls state’s $5 million polygraph program “grossly excessive” as state legislature examines cost… Colorado has spent more than $5 million to administer polygraphs on convicted sex offenders over the last seven years despite concerns that the tests are so unreliable they can’t be used as evidence…

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