News Room

The Ohio State University offers journalists the expertise of faculty and staff from one of the nation’s leading public research universities. You are welcome to contact these sources directly.

A broadcast studio with fiber connection is available for live and pre-taped interviews seven days a week.

For additional assistance, contact University Relations at 614-292-8385 or osumedia@osu.edu.

For Media

Connect

What's going on at Ohio State?
Sign up to get monthly updates.

For Press: Sign up to receive news releases:

Additional Media Resources

OSU Quick Facts

Andrew Grant-Thomas

U.S. Politics and Legal Systems, Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity
Specializing in: Race, Ethnicity, Prison
614-292-7525
Email

The US imprisons a larger percentage of its black population than South Africa did during Apartheid; and more African Americans are in prison today than were enslaved in 1850.

There are two reasons for this high rate of imprisonment: 1) An aggressive U.S. drug enforcement policy and 2) racial disparities in arrest and sentencing. Even worse, those imprisoned for felony offenses face social exclusion and discrimination due to their prison record � all fully legal - for LIFE. Whether while incarcerated or afterwards, why should an individual lose the right to vote which is a fundamental right of citizenship? When does one stop being a citizen?