Does carceral status signal fitness for jury service? An exploratory study of the state’s role in shaping public opinion

Abstract

In the United States, a felony criminal conviction often reduces or eliminates opportunities to take part in civic and social life. One such record-based restriction impacts juror eligibility for those with a felony criminal history. In 2020, the Governor of Iowa began automatically restoring the civil rights of those convicted of a felony upon completion of their sentence, creating a new carceral status and thus, offering an optimal context to examine how the public views individuals convicted of a felony at various stages of the carceral process. To that end, we surveyed 207 Iowans to probe their attitudes toward 1) the redeemability and 2) suitability for jury service of those convicted of a felony across several carceral statuses. Findings indicate that the public views individuals convicted of a felony as more redeemable and more suitable for jury service as their carceral status improves (i.e., further from incarceration). These findings align with theories of policy framing and redeemability, demonstrating that a reduction in carceral status signals increased reintegration and fosters attitudes supportive of civic inclusion. From a policy perspective, our results highlight that state level restoration laws not only impact juror eligibility for individuals with felony convictions but also influence how the public perceives their inclusion in civic service. This suggests policymakers have the power to shape public sentiment through policy change and should carefully consider how such amendments affect the reintegration pathway for those with a felony record.