Felony disenfranchisement and Duncan Fletcher: Difference between pages

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Felony conviction thresholds affected by inflation: I'm pretty sure inflation works the other way; prices (and values expressed in currency) go up, not down.
 
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{{Infobox Cricketer |
'''Felony disenfranchisement''' is the term used to describe the practice of prohibiting persons from [[voting]] based on the fact that they have been convicted of a felony.
flag = Flag of Zimbabwe.svg |
nationality = Zimbabwean |
country = Zimbabwe |
country abbrev = ZIM |
name = Duncan Fletcher |
picture = Cricket no pic.png‎ |
batting style = Left-handed batsman |
bowling style = Right-arm fast-medium |
tests = - |
test runs = - |
test bat avg = - |
test 100s/50s = - |
test top score = - |
test overs = - |
test wickets = - |
test bowl avg = - |
test 5s = - |
test 10s = - |
test best bowling = - |
test catches/stumpings = - |
ODIs = 6 |
ODI runs = 191 |
ODI bat avg = 47.75 |
ODI 100s/50s = -/2 |
ODI top score = 71* |
ODI overs = 50.1 |
ODI wickets = 7 |
ODI bowl avg = 31.57 |
ODI 5s = - |
ODI best bowling = 4/42 |
ODI catches/stumpings = -/- |
date = 20 June |
year = 1983 |
source = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/zimbabwe/content/player/55424.html
}}
 
[[Image:FletcherAthers.JPG|thumb|300px|right|Duncan Fletcher (left) talking to [[Michael Atherton]] after England's defeat at the [[MCG]] in 2006.]]
:''For the American Senator and lawyer, see [[Duncan U. Fletcher]]''
 
'''Duncan Andrew Gwynne Fletcher [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]]''' (born [[27 September]] [[1948]]) is a former [[Zimbabwean cricket team|Zimbabwean]] [[cricket]]er, former [[captain (cricket)|captain]] of the [[Zimbabwean cricket team]] and former coach of the [[English cricket team]]. Fletcher is largely credited with rejuvenating the fortunes of the then flagging English team, with the team rising from bottom of the [[Test cricket|Test]] rankings to second under his tenure as coach.
== History ==
 
== Early Life ==
Felony disenfranchisement laws were passed by many Southern states following the [[Civil War]]. At the time, the responsible legislators were fairly explicit in their intent that these laws would be used to disenfranchise [[African-Americans]] who had recently been freed from [[slavery]]. Unlike most other laws that burden the right of citizens to [[vote]] based on some form of social status, felony disenfranchisement laws have been held to be [[constitutional]]. Section 2 of the [[Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution|Fourteenth Amendment]] to the [[United States Constitution]] permits the right to vote to be taken away from those convicted of rebellion "or other crime."
 
Fletcher was born in Salisbury, [[Southern Rhodesia]] (now [[Harare]], [[Zimbabwe]]) and was one of five brothers in a Rhodesian farming family described as 'ruggedly sporty'.<ref>[http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/55424.html| Cricinfo - Players and Officials - Duncan Fletcher]</ref>
The [[United States Supreme Court]] has generally upheld felony disenfranchisement laws, but has at the same time struck down those that were clearly directed at affecting particular racial groups, or which allowed disenfranchisement based on the commission of acts so minor that they could not be classified as felonies.
 
== Current ApplicationCareer ==
 
Under Fletcher the England cricket team achieved famous series victories away to Sri Lanka, Pakistan and South Africa between 2000-2004. In 2004 England won an English record equalling 7 consecutive tests, beating New Zealand 3-0 and West Indies 4-0 at home respectively. His most famous and largest achievement however came in September 2005 he became the first coach of the English team to win an [[The Ashes|Ashes]] series for 18 years when England secured 2-1 victory over Australia. Fletcher was Zimbabwe's first-ever [[one-day international]] captain, leading them to their famous victory at the [[1983 cricket World Cup]] over [[Australian cricket team|Australia]]. Fletcher also [[Zimbabwean national cricket captains|captained Zimbabwe]] to victory in the 1982 [[ICC Trophy]].
Today, only six states continue to impose a life-long denial of the right to vote to all citizens with a felony record, absent some extraordinary intervention by the [[Governor]] or [[State legislature]]. These are [[Alabama]], [[Florida]], [[Iowa]], [[Kentucky]], [[Nebraska]], and [[Virginia]]. Eight other states disenfranchise ex-felons for various lengths of time following the completion of their probation or parole.
Almost every state prohibits felons from voting while incarcarated, on [[probation]], or on [[parole]].
 
== Arguments ==
 
On [[13 September]] [[2005]] Fletcher was awarded British citizenship after a five year wait. Although both his parents and all his grandparents were English, Fletcher had been denied citizenship by virtue of the fact he spent most of his time abroad - touring with the England team. After the Ashes series win of 2005, the Home Secretary, [[Charles Clarke]], intervened to award Fletcher his long-sought citizenship.
===Pro-felony disenfranchisement===
 
Fletcher received heavy criticism from all quarters after preferring [[Ashley Giles]] to [[Monty Panesar]] as England's main spinner in the first two Tests of the [[2006-07 Ashes series]]; Giles took three wickets in two Tests, while Panesar, when given the chance in the third Test, took five wickets in the first innings and three wickets in the second innings. Following defeat to Australia by 206 runs in the third test on [[18 December]] [[2006]] which saw England relenquish the Ashes 15 months after gaining them, the [[England and Wales Cricket Board]] confirmed that Fletcher's position as head coach was under review. Despite a brief reprieve in early 2007 when England won the [[2006-07 Commonwealth Bank Series|Commonwealth Bank Series]], Fletcher came under increased criticism as England performed poorly in the [[Cricket World Cup 2007|World Cup]], which culminated in a nine wicket loss to [[South African cricket team|South Africa]] in which the team were booed off the field by England's Barmy Army. It was later announced, on [[19 April]] [[2007]], that his 8 year tenure as coach was to end following England's final [[Cricket World Cup#Tournament|Super 8]] match against the [[West Indies cricket team|West Indies]] on Saturday [[21 April]] [[2007]].
Proponents of felony disenfranchisement contend that [[felonies]] are, by definition, serious [[crime]]s, and that persons who commit felonies have 'broken' the [[social contract]], and have thereby given up their right to participate in a civil society. Proponents may view disenfranchisement as simply being another form of punishment for the crime committed, or a deterrant to future crime. Some argue that felons have shown poor judgment, and that they should therefore not have a voice in the political decision-making process. Others go so far as to draw this concept to what is deemed to be its logical ultimate conclusion: that a wealthy person who commits a felony should also be deprived of all of their property, in order to prevent them from participating in the political process financially.
 
==Trivia==
Fletcher's sister, [[Ann Grant]] captained the [[Zimbabwe]] women's [[field hockey]] team which won the gold medal in the [[1980 Summer Olympics]] in [[Moscow]].
 
His brother, [[Allan Fletcher]], played seven first-class games for [[Rhodesian cricket team|Rhodesia]] in the late 1970s.
===Anti-felony disenfranchisement===
 
In 2005 Fletcher became the first coach of the England cricket team to win an Ashes series against Australia for 18 years, with England winning the home series 2-1. However in the return series just 16 months later, Fletcher led England to their first Ashes whitewash (5-0) defeat since the 1920/21 tour of Australia.
Opponents point to empirical evidence that the relatively small proportion of ex-felons who do participate in the political process by voting are less likely to return to crime. They note that felony disenfranchisement is often accompanied by other deprivations of civil rights, such as the ability to work in certain professions, which make it harder for former convicts to lead productive lives. Some also contend that it may be cruel and unusual punishment, in violation of the [[Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution|Eighth Amendment]], to sentence someone to a lifelong prohibition from voting based on a singly felony conviction. They point to instances of [[teenager]]s being convicted of relatively minor crimes which can still be classified as felonies, like [[trespassing]] on a construction site or stealing a [[stop sign]], and argue that the law should not operate to deprive them of fundamental rights that they might not appreciate until many years later. Some contend that the right to vote is such a fundamental protection against potential government tyranny that is should never be deprived, no matter the circumstances.
 
==Reference==
== Felony conviction thresholds affected by inflation ==
<div class="references-small">
<references />
</div>
 
*[http://content.cricinfo.com/zimbabwe/content/player/55424.html Cricinfo page on Duncan Fletcher]
One aspect of this issue which bears upon the above arguments is the fact that various property crimes can have dollar amount thresholds, which, if exceeded, turn a misdemeanor into a felony. For example, in Massachusetts under penalties specified in [[General Laws of Massachusetts|MGL]] Chap. 266: Sec. 127 [http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/266-127.htm], a prosecution for '''''malicious destruction of property''''' can result in a felony conviction, if the dollar amount of damage exceeds $250 [http://www.bristolda.com/doc.ccml?9,947,419,da419,E,,Doc,page.html] [http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=ma&vol=sjcslip/8432&invol=1]. Some people would argue that $250 is excessively low and since this dollar amount has not risen for many years, even damaging another's a radio or cell phone could now result in losing one's right to vote. If the dollar thresholds are not increased by law (or indexed to Inflation), a conviction for what is effectively very little money, could result is losing one's right to vote.
*[http://www.theroar.com.au/2007/04/20/duncan-fletcher-hero-or-culprit/ Duncan Fletcher article], - hero or culprit?
 
[[Category:Zimbabwean cricketers|Fletcher, Duncan]]
== External links ==
[[Category:Western Province cricketers|Fletcher, Duncan]]
[http://www.sentencingproject.org/issues_03.cfm The Sentencing Project page on Felony Disenfranchisement]
[[Category:Zimbabwean ODI cricketers|Fletcher, Duncan]]
[[Category:Zimbabwean ICC Trophy captains|Fletcher, Duncan]]
[[Category:Zimbabwean ODI captains|Fletcher, Duncan]]
[[Category:Cricket coaches|Fletcher, Duncan]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire|Fletcher, Duncan]]
[[Category:1948 births|Fletcher, Duncan]]
[[Category:Living people|Fletcher, Duncan]]
[[Category:Cricketers at the 1983 Cricket World Cup|Fletcher, Duncan]]
 
{{Template:England Squad 2007 Cricket World Cup}}
[[Category:Civil rights]]
{{Template:England Squad 2003 Cricket World Cup}}
[[Category:law]]