FOR RELEASE April 26, 2011
CONTACT: (786) 363-2737 media@aclufl.org
TAMPA – The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida today launched a new program and partnership to assist individuals in Hillsborough County through the process of having their voting and other civil rights restored following completion of their sentences for a felony conviction.
Upon conviction for a felony, the State of Florida removes civil rights including the right to vote, serve on a jury or run for office. After competition of the imposed sentence including any required restitution, former felons may apply to have these rights restored. The process is governed by the Rules of Executive Clemency which are established by the Board of Executive Clemency – composed of Governor Rick Scott and elected members of the Florida cabinet.
In March, 2011the Board of Executive Clemency changed the rules and created a new, mandatory minimum five to seven year waiting period before applying for restoration of civil rights. The new changes also create a new application and review system likely to delay the process even more. Civil rights restoration is also linked to as many as 40% of job requirements in Florida limiting employment as well as civic opportunities for former offenders.
"We want to make it as easy and seamless as it can be to move from completing the terms of your sentence to fully rejoining the community as a productive, law-abiding, tax-paying and participating citizen,” said Joyce Hamilton Henry, Director of the Mid-Florida Office of the ACLU of Florida. “Everyone should be invested in that transition and we’re happy to bring these groups and organizations to table to make that happen.”
The first of the new and ongoing series of restoration workshops was held at the C. Blythe Andrews Jr (formerly College Hill) Library and included representatives from the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections, the Hillsborough Branch of NAACP, the Re-Entry Co-Operative of America and the Office of the Public Defender. The workshops will be weekly at the same location.
“Making a full and complete integration from prison to community is vital,” said Al Mccray, an impacted Hillsborough resident who joined the ACLUFL and other leaders in announcing the new effort. “When doors to the community are closed, locked or difficult to find, it leaves people out and people who are left out are likely to stay stuck in the revolving door of the prison system.”
Numerous studies have shown that full and rapid integration into the community, including the right to vote, is a vital part of reducing recidivism – the likelihood that a former offender will offend again and re-enter the corrections system.
“The path leading away from prison should lead to a better, more productive life,” Hamilton Henry said. “We’re going to do everything we can to make sure no one is diverted from that path because they didn’t understand some paperwork or nobody cared enough to show them the way.”
“We stand with the ACLU today in pursuit of equality and justice for all mankind to be restored their right to vote, specifically those men and women who have paid their debts to society and are entitled to have their rights restored,” said Dr. Carolyn Hepburn-Collins, President of the Hillsborough County Branch of the NAACP. “We solicit every organization and individual to put on the armor and accept this call for action for restoring rights.”
Joining Mccray and Hamilton Henry at the announcement were Quinton Robinson, President of the Re-Entry Co-Operative of America and LaTarsha Brown, attorney and Counselor at Law who works on restoration of rights issues. Representatives from the offices of the Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections and County Commissioner Kevin Beckner as well as other advocacy leaders also participated.
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About the ACLU of Florida
The ACLU of Florida is freedom's watchdog, working daily in the courts, legislatures and communities to defend individual rights and personal freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. For additional information, visit our web site at: www.aclufl.org.
