Convicted felons with connections (5,4)
I believe the answer is:
chain gang
'with connections' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't see how one could define the other.
I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for chain gang that I've seen before include "Linked prisoners" , "Convicts forced to work" , "Shackled workers?" , "penal group" , "Convicts' work group" .)