EFTA01735568.pdf

HI THURSDAY. MARCH 10.2011 15B THE MIAMI HERALD I MiamiHerald.com LOCAL & STATE TALLAHASSEE State im po se s st ri ct er clem en cy ru le s said. Pc, Gov. Rick Scott and the clemency board issued out a time-consuming appli- of Ocala said: "Convicted Even the streamlined civil strict regulations on when felons can regain the cation and bearing process. felons should show a will- New rights process required S The new policy requires ingness to abide by the law ons to wait years for a deci- right to vote. felons to apply for civil before they have their privi- clemency, leges of citizenship re- sion because the Florida Pa- BY STEVE BOUSOUET a Adam Putnam asked for a rights at least five years after turned : rules role Commission, the agen- Herakl/Tunes Tallahassee Bureau slower, more detailed expla- compl eting their senten ces, cy that handles clemency they Leon County Supervisor Highlights of the. of the change s, say- during which time cases, is now hobbled by a TALLAHASSEE — With nation of Electioris Ion Sancho said amended clemency rule; arrested. approved Wednesday. lack of personnel and has a uncommon speed that infu- ing he "didn't have much can't be classes of violent the restrictive civil rights Certain Nonviolent felons backlog of more than riated opponents, Gott Rick time" to absorb them be- Flori- cause he got the propos al so felons will have to wait sev- process — "a stain on must be crime-free for 100,000 cases. Scott and the Cabinet im- da" he called it — has its ori- posed strict new barriers late en years to apply ivil War five years alter compleb The state grants five "The restoration of civil gins in the post-C Wednesday on felons who 'WHY THE RUSH? ef- Don of their.sentences forms of clemency: restora- the right to rights can be a significant Reconstruction era, in an before they can applyfor tion of civil rights, pardon, want to regain fort to preven t freed slaves vote. including a five-year "Why the rush to go back part of the rehabilitation of restoration of civil riggs. the right to carry a gun, from voting. waiting period to apply for to where we started from? criminal offenders and can The new policy will en- More serious and commutation of sentence asked Sen. Arthenia Joyner , assist them to re-ente r into violent felons must be and restoration of alien sta- clemency. sure "a permanent under- society" Scott said. crime-free for'seVen tus. The action wipes out a D--Tampa is import ant that this class of underemployed in- Howard Simon of the "It years after completionof streamlined policy adopted form of clemency be grant- dividu als." Sancho said CRITICS WEIGH IN Civil rights advocates their sentences before. in 2007 by former Gov. ACLU of Florida said the ed in a deliber ate, though t- they can apply for reSS; Critics said the change Charlie Crist and a different speed suggested a drive to said Florida joins two other ful manner that prioritizes ration of civil rights. would worsen Florida's high Cabinet in an effort to help deny voting rights to as ma- safety and creates in- states, Kentuc ky and Virgin- ex-offenders become pro- ny people as possible before public s to avoid criminal ia, that also require waiting The dams of crimes rate of recidivism because elec- centive considered more sertus a -offenders will now face ductive driven; and reduce the 2012 presidential periods and hearings before the chance they would com- tion. activity" and violent are exparied new barriers in trying to be- felons can regain their civil mit new crimes. "The unseemly haste and IN SUPPORT rights, which also include to Include public coop- come productive citizens. lack of transparency sug- being able to serve on a jury, Don and crimes invrving Scott supports a revamping TESTIMONY LIMIT ED Prosec utors, police chiefs gests dearly that this was run for office and hold doz- minors. of prison policies to reduce and sheriffs all showed up to Completion of 541- the state's notoriously high Adding to the objections politics disguised as public suppor t of the de- ens of profes sional licenses. of opponents was the fact policy"Simon saki. testify in tence includes protition, rate of recidivism. Joining Scott in the. 4-0 that copies of the rule Asked why it happened so cision. vote were Putnam , Chief Fi- community controluiri "Once a person has paid "Convicted felons should payment of all fine and change were not made avail- fast, Scott said: "I believe be required to demonstrate nancial Officer Jeff Atwater their debt, they should be able to the public until after that part of my job is to. l Pam restitution. fully and quickly integrated their desire to have their and Attorney Genera back into the community" the meeting began and pub- when I get comfortable with rights restored," said Semi- Bondi, a former Hillsbor- lic testimony was then lim- a derision, to go Concord and nole County Sheriff Don Es- ough prosecutor who pro- said Danielle Prendergast, ited to two minutes per per- announce the decision and change last waiting time jot= you director of public policy of son, for a total of 30 minutes. start down a path" linger, speaking for the Flor- posed the have your its restored, the ACWof Florida ation. month . The four statewide elected The discarded policy al- ida Sheriffs Associ "1 believe if you are con- and I firmrbelieve that Steve Banquet can be tens of thousa nds of 'The applic ation proces s ask. reache d et officials received the new lowed victed of a felony, them someone atbuld have to " t.LS(51, 000 la VId3 policy Tuesday night. nonviolent offenders to re- ensures accountability should be an appropriate -. That is a privilege," Bondi [email protected] State Attorney Brad King EFTA01735568 Agriculture Commission- gain their civil rights with-