Restore the Vote

Restore the Vote

Crime does not merely violate abstract laws–it harms the relationship between the one who commits the crime and those who are impacted by it. These include individual victims, but also the wider social community.

Our criminal justice system should seek to restore and heal these broken relationships. This very well may require prison time for criminals, but not as a goal in and of itself. Criminal justice should seek to promote public safety, but also to heal and restore, rather than merely punishing.

Restorative justice policies MCC has supported in recent years include reforms of the minimum drug sentencing guidelines and efforts to restore the voting rights of felons who have served their time in prison. MCC partners with the Minnesota Second Chance Coalition which advocates for responsible policies and practices enabling persons with justice system involvement to support themselves and their families and contribute to their communities to their full potential.