Rights & Re-Enfranchisement
Everything You Need to Know About Felony Voting Rights
By Melisha Daniels - June 20, 2020
Today the nation celebrates Juneteenth. A day that signifies the freedom of African slaves in America some two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. While many Americans are learning the origin of Juneteenth for the first time this week, citizens of the United States with felony convictions still struggle with accessing rights that come with being free. That being said, I can’t think of a better day to inform the millions of people affected by felony convictions of their right to vote. Click here for full story-->
Rights & Re-Enfranchisement
Who All Gone Be There?: Candidates for the U.S. Presidential Election of 2024
By Melisha Daniels - July 22, 2024
According to an article published on New York Times, updated most recently on July 21st, there are currently 6 candidates for president. Well 1 party nominated, 1 strong possible (may as well fix her a plate) and 4 independent candidates seeking to be elected as the 47th President of the United States. Click here for full story-->
Rights & Re-Enfranchisement
Slavery As a Choice: November, 2022 Mid-Term Election
By Melisha Daniels - November 16, 2022
Prison labor slavery is an institution that disproportionately affects Black men and women. Who despite making up less than 13% of the American population, constitute over 1/3rd of the U.S. prison population. Meaning, in addition to being imprisoned, Blacks with criminal convictions are also subjected to enslavement as a form of punishment. And in the 2022 Mid-Term election, prison slavery appeared as a ballot choice for voting Americans in Alabama, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont and Louisiana. Click here for full story-->
Rights & Re-Enfranchisement
Black Code and Prison Labor: The 13th Amendment and Modern Day Slavery
By Melisha Daniels - November 5, 2022
Whether it be fieldhand or firefighter every able-bodied inmate must perform some type of work assignment. An article published by PrisonPolicy.org explains that prisoners in some states are given no compensation for the work they do. While those in compensated state facilities receive between $.13 cents and $1.41 per hour. In addition, prisoners who refuse to participate in work assignments are often punished by loss of visitation, loss of phone privileges or indefinite solitary confinement. Click here for full story-->
Rights & Re-Enfranchisement
Kentucky Representative and US Senate Candidate Charles Booker (Bryan Woolston - AP Photo)
New Kentucky Felony Voting Laws Could Place States Youngest Black Lawmaker in U.S. Senate
By Melisha Daniels - June 21, 2020
Kentucky Representative and US Senate Candidate Charles Booker (Bryan Woolston - AP Photo)
The Kentucky state primary is quickly approaching. Over 100,000 citizens with felony offenses will be voting in this years state primary election, where voters decided which judges will sit on the bench and who will represent them in the U.S. Senate. A tense atmosphere plagued with allegations of voter suppression, the primary originally scheduled to take place in May will finally be held on June 23, 2020. Click here for full story-->
Rights & Re-Enfranchisement
Prison Policy Initiative (Prison.Org - CA)
This Online App Helps California Residents Remove Criminal Convictions from Their Record
By Melisha Daniels - June 24, 2020
Prison Policy Initiative (Prison.Org - CA)
The havoc the United States criminal justice system has wreaked on Black families is no secret. Harrowing statistics such as Blacks making up 34% of the U.S. prison population, show the apparent racial disparities that exist in the world’s largest incarcerator of humans. Click here for full story-->
Rights & Re-Enfranchisement
It Takes 44 Days to Restore Voting Rights After A Felony Conviction in Alabama
By Melisha Daniels - July 7, 2020
The practice of 'civil death' (the loss of all civil rights) after conviction of a crime was carried over from Britain to the Americas. Despite the known disparities that exist in the United States criminal justice system, the phenomena of felony disenfranchisement, remains a technique used to prevent American citizens from participating in the democratic voting process. Click here for full story-->
Rights & Re-Enfranchisement
Criminal Sentencing Modification Bill to End Oklahoma's Incarceration Crisis on November Ballot
By Melisha Daniels - August 7, 2020
The state of Oklahoma is second in the nation in rate of incarceration of it's citizens. Blacks are disproportionately affected by disparate and excessive sentencing practices for non-violent offenses such as drugs and property crimes. Enhanced sentence terms often result in serving time that extends beyond the maximum term limit allowable for the offense. Click here for full story-->
Rights & Re-Enfranchisement
Rights & Re-Enfranchisement
Rights & Re-Enfranchisement
Rights & Re-Enfranchisement
Rights & Re-Enfranchisement
Rights & Re-Enfranchisement
Rights & Re-Enfranchisement
Court Rules Incarcerated are Eligible to Receive Stimulus Payments
By Melisha Daniels - October 15, 2020
The U.S. District Court has ruled that the IRS unlawfully withheld stimulus checks from prisoners. The ruling means that people who are incarcerated and meet all other eligible requirements can now receive the $1,200 payments. Click here for full story-->
How to Claim Stimulus Payments if You Don't File Taxes
By Melisha Daniels - March 11, 2021
Step-by-Step Instructions on How to Get Stimulus if you don't normally file a tax return. Click here for full story-->
Michigan Clean Slate Laws To Take Effect April 11
By Melisha Daniels - March 19, 2021
Project Clean Slate, a criminal record expungement initiative sponsored by the City of Detroit, will provide Michigan residents with all the services necessary to expunge applicable criminal charges from their record. Click here for full story-->
You Always Have The Right To Remain Silent
By Melisha Daniels - March 23, 2021
...One of these rights is your 5th Amendment right not to incriminate yourself in a criminal investigation or legal proceeding against you. This means, outside of any state identification laws and absent an indictment, you have the right to not speak with the police. Click here for full story-->
The Importance of Being Legal: 4 Ways To Resolve Misdemeanor Traffic Warrants
By Melisha Daniels - April 16, 2021
Hundreds of thousands of Americans are plagued by misdemeanor warrants for their arrests as a result of unpaid traffic tickets and past due fines and court costs. Society's song about staying legal and within the law takes on a different tone when you don't have enough money to make rent and buy food for your family. Or when you can't afford to take off or risk losing your job behind going to court. Click here for full story-->
We Can't Breathe: The Police Need to Stop Killing Black People
By Melisha Daniels - April 20, 2021
The data from police encounters occurring between 2015 and 2020 found that Blacks are killed by the police at a rate 3 times higher than other races. That rate is slightly higher at 3.46 for Blacks who are unarmed when they came in contact with the police. Click here for full story-->
Arizona Marijuana Expungement to Take Effect July 12, 2021
By Melisha Daniels - May 13, 2021
The November, 2020 election saw Arizona voters approve Proposition 207. A bill supporting the legalization and decriminalization of marijuana use in the state. Arizonans, age 21 and over, began purchasing marijuana for adult use back in March. And effective July 12, 2021, people with eligible marijuana related arrests and/or convictions will be able to expunge those charges from their criminal record. Click here for full story-->
