Reason.com - Free Minds and Free Markets
Reason logo Reason logo
  • Latest
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Subscribe
    • Crossword
  • Video
  • Podcasts
    • All Shows
    • The Reason Roundtable
    • The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie
    • The Soho Forum Debates
    • Just Asking Questions
    • The Best of Reason Magazine
    • Why We Can't Have Nice Things
  • Volokh
  • Newsletters
  • Donate
    • Donate Online
    • Donate Crypto
    • Ways To Give To Reason Foundation
    • Torchbearer Society
    • Planned Giving
  • Subscribe
    • Reason Plus Subscription
    • Print Subscription
    • Gift Subscriptions
    • Subscriber Support

Login Form

Create new account
Forgot password

Felons

trump2 | Illustration: Lex Villena; adapted from Yuri Gripas - Pool via CNP/picture alliance / Consolidated News Photos/Newscom, Ron Sachs ZUMAPRESS Newscom

Criminal Justice

Donald Trump and Hunter Biden Are Both Felons. But What Does Felon Really Mean?

For hundreds of years, a felony has been defined not by the action itself but by how we punish it.

Bekah Congdon | 9.26.2024 7:00 AM

A firearm, a jury box, and the Supreme Court | Illustration: Lex Villena; Adam Parent,  Martin33

Criminal Justice

The Supreme Court Again Strengthens the Right to a Jury Trial in Criminal Sentencing

Paul Erlinger was sentenced to 15 years in prison based largely on a determination made by a judge—not a jury.

Billy Binion | 6.21.2024 5:12 PM

A DJI Matrice M300 drone in flight over a grassy field. | Marian Gh Moise | Dreamstime.com

Drones

Florida Man Sentenced to 4 Years in Federal Prison After Shooting Down a Drone

Rather than destruction of property, Wendell Goney was convicted of possession of a firearm as a felon.

Joe Lancaster | 3.1.2024 3:44 PM

Body camera footage shows a police officer shooting A'Donte Washington | Bonneville County Sheriff's Department

Criminal Justice

He Got 30 Years for Murder After a Cop Killed His Friend

Lakeith Smith's case epitomizes the issues with the "felony murder" doctrine.

Billy Binion | 4.5.2023 2:16 PM

NTSB Report Shows Useless, Premature Regulatory Push After East Palestine, Ohio Derailment. | AARON JOSEFCZYK/UPI/Newscom

Trains

New NTSB Report Highlights Useless, Premature Regulatory Push After East Palestine Derailment

Plus: Ex-felons and the right to vote, Gavin Newsom's plan to cap oil company profits collides with reality, and more...

Christian Britschgi | 2.24.2023 9:57 AM

Two people are seen at a food bank | Photo 153624307 © Monkey Business Images | Dreamstime.com

Charity/Philanthropy

Charity and Capitalism Are Better Than Government

When I was young, I assumed government would lift people out of poverty. But those policies often do more harm than good.

John Stossel | 12.28.2022 12:10 PM

Ron DeSantis speaks in front of the Florida flag | Joe Burbank/TNS/Newscom

Ron DeSantis

Ron DeSantis Touted the Arrest of 20 People for Illegally Voting. Some Say They Were Told They Were Eligible.

The messy rollout of a constitutional amendment restoring voting rights to felons is now creating more felony crimes.

C.J. Ciaramella | 8.23.2022 4:05 PM

carophotos330406 | Caro / Sven Hoffmann/Newscom

Guns

Tennessee Will Now Let Felons Possess Guns, but Only if the Guns Are More Than 120 Years Old

A change in Tennessee’s definition of a firearm allows for felons to own a gun provided it was manufactured before 1899.

Noah Shepardson | 10.16.2019 11:50 AM

Bernie Sanders | Aaron Jackendoff / SOPA Images/S/Newscom

Voting Rights

Bernie Sanders Is Right: We Should Let the Boston Marathon Bomber Vote

Incarcerated people are already paying their debt to society. What good does it do the rest of the population to take away their right to have a say?

Joe Setyon | 4.23.2019 11:25 AM

Large image on homepages | Ammentorp/Dreamstime.com

Crime

Did SCOTUS Just Rule That Pickpocketing Is a 'Violent Felony'?

Justice Sonia Sotomayor has some concerns.

Joe Setyon | 1.16.2019 1:35 PM

Large image on homepages | JaCrispy/Dreamstime.com

Florida

A Florida Man Faces Prison for Making Grills Without a License

Allen Turner didn't know his business was illegal until it was too late.

Zuri Davis | 10.9.2018 4:00 PM

Large image on homepages | John Roca/Polaris/Newscom

Voting Rights

Gov. Cuomo to Use Pardons to Restore Voting Rights to Some Felons

He faces a reelection challenge from the left, with Cynthia Nixon running on criminal justice issues like pot legalization.

Scott Shackford | 4.18.2018 4:30 PM

Large image on homepages

Voting Rights

Felons Who Want Their Voting Rights Back Are Getting Unconstitutionally Screwed, Says Judge

The state uses a panel of partisan officials with absolute discretion to determine who gets to vote again

Alec Ward | 2.2.2018 11:45 AM

Large image on homepages

Guns

Revisiting Restrictions on the Right to Bear Arms

Does conviction for a crime mean a permanent ban?

Brian Doherty | 3.22.2017 6:00 AM

  • About
  • Browse Topics
  • Events
  • Staff
  • Jobs
  • Donate
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Media
  • Shop
  • Amazon
Reason Facebook@reason on XReason InstagramReason TikTokReason YoutubeApple PodcastsReason on FlipboardReason RSS

© 2025 Reason Foundation | Accessibility | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Take Reason's short survey for a chance to win $300
Take Reason's short survey for a chance to win $300
Take Reason's short survey for a chance to win $300