Florida Governor Crist Highlights Restoration Of Civil Rights Of All Cases Before 2008

June 17, 2008 -- TALLAHASSEE – Florida Governor Charlie Crist today commended Florida Department of Corrections and Florida Parole Commission employees for completing the review of all pre-2008 cases of ex-offenders eligible for automatic restoration of civil rights.

At the first statewide Florida Restoration of Rights Summit at the Capitol in Tallahassee, Governor Crist announced that since the Florida Board of Executive Clemency approved a rule change providing for the restoration of the civil rights for certain ex-offenders, 115,232 individuals have had their civil rights restored.

“I am proud to announce today that all of the historical cases have been reviewed, and I applaud the work of our dedicated staff members who continue to review the 2008 cases,” Governor Crist said. “There is no greater testament to our nation’s democracy than the people’s ability to choose their leaders, and by granting ex-offenders the opportunity to participate in the democratic process, we restore their dignity, as well as their ability to be gainfully employed.”

The Restoration of Rights Summit brings together state agencies and community organizations to identify barriers to ex-offenders’ re-entry into society, such as restoration of their civil rights, and to determine viable solutions to those barriers. Participants will work to develop a formal and comprehensive re-entry strategic plan to address the growing problem of ex-inmates returning to prison.

“Before April 2007, about 7,000 individuals received the restoration of civil rights each year,” Governor Crist said. “I am proud that more than half of all the individuals who have had their rights restored during the past 14 years have done so in the past 14 months.”

On April 5, 2007, Governor Crist introduced a change to the Rules of Executive Clemency during a special meeting of the Florida Board of Executive Clemency that provided for the restoration of the civil rights for certain ex-offenders. Under the rule, the civil rights of ex-offenders who have committed less severe non-violent crimes, and meet certain requirements, qualify for approval without a hearing.

Also in attendance at the summit were Walt McNeil, Secretary of the Florida Department of Corrections, and Monica David, chair of the Florida Parole Commission. Legislators attending the summit included Senator Arthenia Joyner, Senator Paula Dockery, Senator Stephen Wise, Representative Kurt Kelly, Representative Jim Frishe, Representative Thad Altman, Representative Curtis Richardson and Representative Betty Reed.

Source: Florida Governor

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