Citizenship, democracy, and the civic reintegration of criminal offenders

Convicted felons face both legal and informal barriers to becoming productive citizens at work, responsible citizens in family life, and active citizens in their communities. As criminal punishment has increased ill the United States, collateral sanctions such as voting restrictions have taken oil new meaning. The authors place such restrictions in comparative context and consider their effects oil civil liberties, democratic institutions, and civic life more generally. Based on demographic life tables, the authors estimate that approximately 4 million former prisoners and 11.7 million former felons live and work among us every day. The authors describe historical changes in these groups; their effects oil social institutions; and the extent to which they constitute a caste, class, or status group within American society The authors conclude by discussing how reintegrative criminal justice practices might strengthen democracy while preserving, and perhaps enhancing public safety.