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Fifty-one Clergy From A Dozen Denominations in 46 Towns Throughout Massachusetts Urge Voters to Pass Question 2 Contact: Charles Thomas, IDPI Executive Director, at 301-938-1577 November 3, 2008 — Religious leaders throughout Massachusetts are urging voters to pass Question 2, replacing incarceration and a criminal record with a civil fine for possession of a small amount of marijuana for personal use. Fifty-one clergy in 46 towns and cities signed a statement proclaiming, “We support changing Massachusetts law so that people who possess under an ounce of marijuana will no longer face arrest or prison.” The clergypersons calling for more just and compassionate policies are from a dozen different denominations, including Catholic, Congregationalist, and American Baptist. Several denominations and other major religious groups also have adopted official positions opposing criminal penalties for marijuana users, including the National Council of Churches, United Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church USA, Central Conference of American Rabbis, and the Unitarian Universalist Association. In Massachusetts, more than 7,500 people a year are arrested for the personal possession of an ounce or less of marijuana and face up to six months in jail and a fine. In addition, a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) report is generated upon arrest, which frequently bans individuals from obtaining school loans and professional licensure, as well as substantially limiting opportunities for employment and housing, thereby impeding their ability to lead productive lives. “Those we incarcerate are not faceless strangers but our children,” said Pastor Jeffrey Long-Middleton from the West Acton Baptist Church. “It is unjust to lock them up for behaviors that don’t directly harm others. In fact, the current laws only increase the likelihood that they will become trapped in a cycle of offenses and self-harm.” A small group of only six clergypersons recently spoke out against Question 2, having been misled into believing that replacing criminal penalties with a civil fine would lead to an increase in marijuana usage by young people. In fact, eleven other states enacted similar laws in the past 35 years, and there was no resulting increase in marijuana use in any age group in those states. “We’re not urging anyone to use marijuana,” said the Rev. Marc Fredette from the First Unitarian Universalist Parish in Waltham. “But it is worse to have a marijuana policy that doesn’t accomplish any of its goals, disproportionately punishes the most vulnerable members of our community, and continues to punish them even after they’ve served their sentence.” Marijuana use rates are the same across race and class lines; however, arrest and conviction rates rise dramatically for offenders of color, youth, and the economically disadvantaged. Efforts to educate the public about the need to pass Question 2 include a full-page ad in today’s Berkshire Eagle, quoting the religious leaders’ entire statement of support. “It’s time to set the record straight,” said Charles Thomas, executive director of the Interfaith Drug Policy Initiative in Washington, D.C. “Criminal penalties for marijuana possession violates the core religious principles of justice and compassion. Religious leaders everywhere are seeing the light, and it’s very encouraging that clergy in Massachusetts taking a position on Question 2 are overwhelmingly supportive.”

As the nation prepares to head to the polls next week for an historic Election Day, let us not forget the 5.3 million U.S. citizens who are denied the right to vote due to a felony conviction. The Sentencing Project continues to work for felony disenfranchisement reform and we thank you for your support. Inmate Voting The Sheriff's Department recently earned kudos for facilitating inmate voting in the Ventura County Jail system in California. Policy allows inmates awaiting trial to request voter registration forms and absentee ballots and jail staff hand-carry ballots to and from the elections office, the Ventura County Star reported. "We do a lot of footwork for them," said Susan Llewellyn, Ventura County Jail inmate services program manager. The Ohio Justice & Policy Center asked the U.S. District Court in Cleveland to restore the canceled voter registrations of some residents of a juvenile detention center in Ohio after a voter complained that they were not eligible to vote, the Associated Press reported. About 2400 Washington, D.C. jail inmates have received registration forms since March and approximately 100 have requested absentee ballots for the upcoming election, the Washington Post reported. In Washington, jail inmates and those who have been released from prison are eligible to vote. "We try to educate the inmate of their right to vote," said Devon Brown, director of the D.C. Department of Corrections. "Many of them don't know they can vote." Wisconsin: Journal Times Pennsylvania: Philadelphia Daily News Alabama: Restore Voting Rights The Montgomery Advertiser published a letter to the editor commenting on the state Constitution's antiquated and confusing "crimes of moral turpitude" clause which disenfranchises many citizens from the voting process. The letter states that reform is a must. "This is not to give an excuse to those guilty, but to restore integrity to a system that has gone unchecked since 1901," it stated. On the other end of the spectrum, another Montgomery Advertiser reader agrees with disenfranchisement. Read letter. Mississippi: Favorable Ruling Not Expected to Come in Time for Election It is likely that nearly 150,000 citizens will not vote next week because of Mississippi's disenfranchisement law, ACLU lawyer Nancy Abudu stated after U.S. District Judge Tom Lee refused last month to issue a preliminary injunction that would have forced Mississippi officials to allow felons to vote for president. The lawsuit, however, was not completely dismissed. "These folks probably won't be allowed to vote in November unless the district court issues a favorable ruling in the next week - highly unlikely," said Abudu who works with the ACLU Voting Rights Project. The organization claims in a federal lawsuit filed last month that there's an exception in the Mississippi constitution that allows people with felony convictions to vote in the presidential elections, the Fort Mill Times reported. Georgia: Award-winning Rapper Propels Youth to Get Politically Involved After he Casts Vote Prior to Serving Sentence Twenty-eight year-old rap artist, Cliff Harris, who goes by the initials "T.I." became a first-time voter this week and inspired other youth to vote, the Associated Press reported. Harris, who awaits sentencing for a felony offense, thought he was unable to cast a vote in the election until he was told otherwise. "It was a relief," he said. Nathirya Brown, also a first-time voter, saw the rapper cast his early vote and said, "It's inspirational what he is doing." "Just him being diligent enough helps others find out their status as well." Maine: Incarcerated Voters Proud to Use their Voice Maine is one of only two states which allow its incarcerated citizens to vote - and many inmates make use of that right, according to an article posted on KeepMeCurrent.com. Francine Bowden, who runs the Maine Correctional Center Library said voting while incarcerated, prepares individuals to be in the habit of taking part in one duty of citizenship. "They've at least had this, because they will be going back to society," she said. National: Re-enfranchisement is Bipartisan; Debate Continues Since 2000, various states have reformed disenfranchisement laws, enabling citizens with felony convictions to vote - many of those states led by Republican governors, including Alabama, Nebraska, Nevada and Florida, according to the Los Angeles Times. "This is the first time in history that some of these places have ever seen this kind of civic activity," said the Rev. Kenneth Glasgow, director of The Ordinary People's Society. The Times followed up the article with an editorial, "Let Felons Vote," in support of reform. Appearing on a YouTube video by Jeremy Young of Al Jazeera, Kemba Smith debated with Roger Clegg on the disadvantages of banning voters from the ballot box. Smith, who had her sentence commuted by President Bill Clinton in 2000 for a first-time drug offense said, "I should be able to vote because I am a competent citizen of this country. Yes I did make a poor choice years ago. I'm a contributing member of society. I am involved in the political process. It's disturbing that when Election Day comes, I'm going to be watching every one else go into the polls. Disenfranchisement also appeared in the Washington Post's "Post Politics Hour" this week. Florida: Voter Disenfranchisement is "Complicated, Convoluted, Costly and Cumbersome" "I can't vote, but I can pray. So that's what I'll do," said Florida resident Michelle Latimore, who will not be able to vote for her candidate. Latimore is one of an estimated 300,000 to more than 900,000 citizens who have yet to gain back their voting rights despite a rule change enacted by Governor Charlie Crist last year, according to the Associated Press "We have a very complicated, convoluted and costly system," stated ACLU Florida Lawyer Muslima Lewis. "The entire process is very cumbersome." Ohio: Newspaper's Error Further Disenfranchises Residents Needing to retract information from a previously published article that mistakenly reported that citizens with felony convictions could not vote in the state, the Cleveland Plain Dealer re-published an article online to explain the voting rights of those formerly incarcerated. The article also featured the Secretary of State's brochure entitled, "Find a New Direction: Reclaim Your Right To Vote" Virginia: In Battleground State, Advocates Push for Restoration In response to a News Leader letter opposing voting rights for individuals with felony convictions, a voting rights counselor for the Central United Methodist Church in Staunton stated her views. "Many clients committed their crimes 10, 20 or 30 years ago and were frustrated by their inability to vote or explain 'why' to friends or family," she wrote. "Most want to move past their youthful mistakes ... When people turn their lives around and are ready to participate positively in society, the right to vote should be theirs." In September, Reed successfully petitioned the Fairfax County Circuit Court to have his voting rights restored, but Gov. Tim Kaine has not sent him a letter confirming his restoration yet, so he was unable to register in time for next week's election. England's New Statesman published an article that focused on the battleground status of Virginia focused, in part, on voter disenfranchisement that keeps citizens from the polls as a result of felony convictions. "I had never voted before. As I was in prison I realised [sic] I had lost being a citizen, being a contributing member of society, being able to elect officials. I realised [sic] I had lost a great deal. I decided if I was ever released I would do whatever I could to regain my right to vote. I became a model prisoner, went to school, got a college education." For additional coverage, see the Loudoun Times. North Carolina: First-Time Voter Like "Kid with a New Toy" Sixty-seven-year-old Lymon Sykes voted for the first time this week. He was one of 70 individuals with a felony offense who voted early with the help of the Darryl Hunt Project for Freedom and Justice and the Winston-Salem Black Political Action Committee. "I was so excited I was like a little kid with a new toy," he told the Winston-Salem Journal. "The lady there had to help me. I don't have a whole lot of education, but I can read. They told me how to push the first button for president. I had to keep asking." State law allows individuals who have completed their sentence, parole or probation and who have paid restitution. - - - - - - Help The Sentencing Project continue to bring you news and updates on disenfranchisement! Make a contribution today. Contact Information -- e-mail: [email protected], web: http://www.sentencingproject.org