If your driver’s license were suspended, what would you do? What could you afford to do? You’re not allowed to drive on a suspended license, but you have to get to work. Could you afford to take a Lyft or Uber every day? Is there public transportation? Could you...
collateral consequences
Carry rights restored after Wisconsin disorderly conduct conviction
Under federal law, anyone convicted of any felony offense or of any domestic violence offense, even a misdemeanor, is prohibited from possessing a firearm. This is an example of what we call the “collateral consequences” of a criminal conviction. Collateral...
50 years in, evidence mounts against the War on Drugs
The War on Drugs was initiated in June 17, 1971, by President Richard Nixon. Any way you look at it, this effort to reduce drug use and the consequences of addiction has failed. Meanwhile, it has arguably been responsible for many of the most destructive criminal...
Can a state order a new resident onto the sex offender registry?
It’s a relatively common requirement. If you are a registered sex offender in one state and you move to another, the new state will often require you to comply with its registry. However, the state of Indiana went a step further. It required new residents to register...
Wisconsin offers job-seeking help for those released from prison
Study after study has shown that people who find employment after being released from prison are much less likely to reoffend. Unfortunately, former prisoners are often released with limited resources, little to no job training or education, and few opportunities for...
Evers pushes juvenile justice overhaul, legislature may push back
In 2018, former governor Walker and lawmakers agreed in principle to shut down the Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake youth prisons, which have a history of abuse. The idea was to replace them with several new facilities, including a new state prison for serious juvenile...
Should a criminal record be a life sentence to poverty?
Did you know that one in every three Americans has some type of criminal record? That’s 70 million people. Unfortunately, having a criminal record is extremely stigmatized, and it can keep you in poverty for a long time. According to the Clean Slate Initiative, nearly...
When people with intellectual disabilities commit sex crimes
When Adam N. was arrested for exposing himself to a neighbor, it was hard to understand it as a sex crime. Adam is 32 but functions at the level of a 10-year-old. His mother says that the neighbor was actually abusing Adam and coerced him to expose himself. Adam pled...