Disenfranchisement laws exclude former felons from exercising constitutional rights, such as the right to vote, by only denying them full citizenship. Although the laws are intended as neutral restrictions that exclude group members with ex-felon status, these laws treat African Americans unfairly. Statistically speaking, one million four million African Americans are disenfranchised (Federal Probation, Journal of Correctional Philosophy and Practice). Furthermore, the denial of the rights of ex-felons not only impacts the ex-felons, but also has a detrimental impact on the communities in which they reside. The justice system and society have made it difficult to be a convicted criminal and be accepted as a productive member of society, almost as if you are not part of the human race. The proven restriction: felons do not have the right to vote. Restrictions imposed on criminals after their release can be the basis for further danger and further prison sentences. Instead of imposing all the stipulations and restrictions on one's freedom, why not help an ex-criminal to become a law-abiding citizen once proven to grant him the rights one by one and see the result. However, while the right to vote is exercised at In some times the right to earn a living and support one's family is an obstacle that ex-felons face every day. According to the Sentencing Project, a Washington, D.C. organization that studies criminal justice policy, an estimated three point nine million Americans, or one in fifty adults, have lost their right to vote following a felony conviction. (Felon Disenfranchisement: the Modern Day Poll Tax). Thirty-two of our fifty states ban parolees from voting all together. Two more states ban ex-offenders from voting after their... middle of paper jobs... as Republicans and Democrats and a congress and people from all walks of life wake up and smell the coffee. If we had more minorities in the polls on Election Day, all the right votes would no longer go to the wrong people (Bush), for example. Society is hindering criminals instead of helping them, it's time to take a stand and reward criminals who have been rehabilitated, have stable jobs, and have faced recurring charges related to their constitutional right to vote. Works Citied''Advocacy Toolkit ''Standards for Hiring Persons with Criminal Records dated March 3, 2010'' ProCon.org''. 2008 Election March 3, 2010 http://2008election.procon.org/''Salary Caps'' Role Restrictions or Bans for Convicted Felons March 3, 2010 U.S. Department of Justice March 3. 2010