Rights Restoration Education in Ohio Jails and Prisons
Ohio State Legal Studies Research Paper No. 745
Drug Enforcement and Policy Center, December 2022
10 Pages Posted: 6 Dec 2022 Last revised: 9 Mar 2023
Date Written: December 2, 2022
Abstract
Ohio has several rights restoration mechanisms. Among the most prominent are pardon, record sealing, and the certificate of qualification for employment (CQE). Important to the current study, each of these mechanisms have undergone changes in recent years that were meant to increase eligibility. However, research from other states (and some anecdotal evidence in Ohio) indicates that very few individuals with criminal history seek these mechanisms. Explanations for the low numbers of individuals seeking rights restoration mechanisms may include awareness and accessibility issues. In other words, if individuals are not aware of a mechanism or if the process is too burdensome or costly, fewer individuals may seek that mechanism. The current study focuses upon awareness and aims to explore whether Ohio jails and prisons provide any material or education about pardon, record sealing, or the CQE to individuals during or near release.
Keywords: rights restoration, collateral consequences of conviction, record sealing, pardon, certificate of qualification for employment
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