Criminal justice reform victories thread for the 2018 election:
Coloradans overwhelmingly voted to enact Amendment A, removing prison slave labor from their state constitution. States are the laboratories of democracy and this could be a big step toward eventually removing similar language from the U.S. Constitution’s 13th Amendment.
Louisianans voted to approve Amendment 2, requiring a unanimous jury verdict before any felony conviction. Louisiana used to allow for felony convictions resulting in life sentences even if only 10 out of 12 jurors supported a guilty verdict. This Jim Crow-relic of a law is done.
Floridians supported restoration of voting rights for most people who have been convicted of a felony and completed their sentences. This will impact almost 10% of Florida’s voting-age population. Amendment 4 passed by a 30% margin - a resounding victory for equal rights.
Floridians also approved Amendment 11, allowing the state legislature to apply criminal justice reforms retroactively. One major potential outcome of Amendment 11’s passage is application of mandatory minimum reforms to those serving lengthy drug sentences imposed under old laws.
Over 85% of voters in Alabama’s Cullman and Morgan Counties approved referendums that ban their sheriffs from pocketing funds designated for feeding prisoners in the county jail. This issue blew up when it was revealed that a sheriff used the money to buy himself a beach house.
There were a lot more local races and referendums on the ballot today. Check out @theappeal’s tweets for results and analysis on many of those campaigns.
Which criminal justice reform victories are you most inspired by today? How will you carry that momentum forward into future elections and legislative efforts?
