Felon Disenfranchisement—Costs and Consequences

The Open Society Institute hosted a panel discussion, "Felon Disenfranchisement: Costs and Consequences," to address the historical roots and contemporary costs and consequences of disenfranchisement of people with criminal convictions. The event explored how mass imprisonment gravely impacts our democracy and highlight national campaigns underway to challenge these laws in the courts, state legislatures, and communities across the country.

Speakers included:

• Sasha Abramsky, Author of CONNED: How Millions Went to Prison, Lost the Vote and Helped Send George W. Bush to the White House (The New Press);
• Monifa Bandele, Field Director, Right to Vote Campaign;
• Joseph (Jazz) Hayden, Lead Plaintiff in Hayden v. Pataki;
• Jeff Manza, Co-Author (with Chris Uggen) of Locked Out: Felon Disenfranchisement and American Society (Oxford University Press), and Professor of Sociology, Northwestern University;
• Marc Mauer, Author of Race to Incarcerate (The New Press), and Executive Director, The Sentencing Project.

Moderated by Kirsten Levingston, Director, Criminal Justice Program, Brennan Center for Justice.