Voting rights are slowly being restored to former inmates across the country. In 2016, an estimated 6.1 million citizens were kept from the ballot box for the presidential election because of their criminal record. There is a growing consensus among democrats that these citizens should be given their right to vote. Another point to consider is - should current inmates be allowed to vote? We enjoyed reading this Op-Ed by Jamelle Bouie in the New York Times. He raises some important points worth considering when it comes to inmates’ rights. Read the full article at www.nytimes.com.

Facing an outbreak of car thefts committed by teens, police chiefs and prosecutors are pushing a bill that would send more young people into adult courts. Connecticut’s recent experience with juvenile justice reform shows why it’s the wrong choice. Learn more about the issue and how you can take action at www.sentencingproject.org.

Ideas worth spreading: top TED talks.

We’re constantly inspired by the myriad of cool ideas coming out of TED conferences. Here’s a list of top 10 TED talks from the past year, covering everything from astronomy to social justice. See the full list on inc.com.

Death penalty suspended in California.

Whether you are for or against the death penalty, we should all be aware of the ways that willful and unconscious bias affects felony convictions, as the death penalty is applied more often to people of color and those with mental disability. Read more about California is grappling with this issue on npr.com.