With the race for Florida Governor coming to an end, it’s important to know where each candidate stands on the issues.
It is a bit ironic that those who are impacted by these draconian laws don’t get a voting right to change them. … and they say this isn’t punishment!
Civil rights don’t just involve voting, but also involve the right to hold certain licenses and do many things people take for granted.
Here is where the candidates stand on civil rights:
Scott: With a GOP-controlled Cabinet, repealed provision adopted by Crist and Cabinet that allowed released felons, under certain conditions, to have civil rights restored without hearings; imposed new requirement that felons wait a minimum wait of five years before they can apply for restoration of civil rights.
Crist: With a bi-partisan Cabinet, streamlined the process for restoring civil rights to felons without hearings, except for violent crimes and sex offenders. Supports returning to that policy.
It would seem that for our issues, Crist would be the better choice. But what about this “except for violent crimes and sex offenders”? Clearly that is something that should be changed!
I am in a rather unique position: In 1991, I was charged with a lewd act on a child under 16. It was no more than an accusation. I never touched that girl – my step sister said we were “doing things” when nothing could be further from the truth. I trusted my public pretender, Robert Gray, at the time, but apparently he was vying for a better ranking, so I fell through the cracks instead of actually getting legal advice. Again, I trusted my attorney. Why not? I had never been in trouble with the law before, so I was naive, and not very educated about how the world really works. I was not aware that professionals would just lie straight to your face like that with no remorse. So, I was sentenced to 15 years probation with a withheld adjudication, which basically means nothing. I violated in 1996 when my probation officer, Andy Lansing, in Bradenton , Florida, decided that he was going to FIND some reason to violated me. This prick tried everything, from accusing my girlfriend of being a prostitute to trying to make one of the old track-style drug tests come out “iffy” so I had to go get another test done at my expense. I got tired of that guy and moved to another state, effectively violating my probation. I was gone for two years. Best two years of my life. But…I met a girl and decided that if I were ever going to meet someone and be happy that I had to come back and face the music. They were rather lenient on me. I got 10 months in county jail, 1 year house arrest then the continuation of my probation, which I completed in 2008. I convinced the state to let me keep the withheld adjudication. About that withheld adjudication: I can vote. 3 years after completion of probation, I can apply for a firearm. I cannot get a job at the sheriff’s office. ( I thought it would be a great idea for the sheriff to have a “liaison” of sorts for RSO’s, but they wanted nothing to do with it. Since being released from supervision, I now have to wait 25 years from the date of release to be removed from the registry, although I understand there are ways of getting it done sooner. This type of case CANNOT be expunged or sealed, either, which does not seem fair to me. ANY other crime group can effectively obtain housing, find a job, etc. Not Sex Offenders. So, all said and done, for a crime I did not commit, with a legal system that did not look out for my rights in any way AT ALL, I will have 42 years invested in a sentence from which there is no recourse or respite and virtually no way to get a job. There is no legal recourse and certainly no legal assistance. How about a non-profit legal fund set up solely for sex offenders that meet certain criteria? It would be a step in the right direction if you had just the right attorneys to back it up.
While one would think the non-inclusion of registered citisens in this issues is reason to take a another look at the overall comittment of this politician as to true social justice for all. The indications I have found for further change in this area only comes from our liberal side at this time . The former govenr has in the past as did former States atty McCollum , express a better understanding of the overall dynamics of the sex offender registry. they were open to listening to the voice of change.> The current administration has done nothing but IMHO spit on our constitutional rights and returned us to the age of ‘the jim crow laws” mentality . I believe those running against those in power at present present a better opportunity for possible renewed thought and change.