Seven years after Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet voted to end the state policy that automatically restored the civil rights of nonviolent offenders after they complete their sentences, a price tag has emerged.
Florida lost an estimated $385 million a year in economic impact, spent millions on court and prison costs, had 3,500 more offenders return to prison, and lost the opportunity to create about 3,800 new jobs.
Those are just some of the conclusions of a new economic research report prepared by the Republican-leaning Washington Economics Group of Coral Gables for proponents of Amendment 4, the proposal on the November ballot that asks voters to allow the automatic restoration of civil rights for eligible felons who have served their sentences.
How about this I went out and found a good job then after 5 years of working the job I got hurt and ended up hiring a attorney and now he tells me that if I take it to court the judge will look at my record and deny any and all claims because my status and prior record. I have only had 1 charge in my 45 years of living and have had no issues since release. But I still get judged?? What does a prior conviction have to do with getting hurt at work???
No differance. Two years probation turned to life.
Know how you feel. 6 mo. Probation and $50.00 fine turned to life.
Wow!! I thought I got screwed, 3 years probation on a non register-able misdemeanor turned to life.
More facts that politicians and the illiterate electorate of Florida ignore. Unbelievable. Where is the reward for complying with all the ridiculous probation and registry restrictions? There is none.
You are right – there are none! No incentive of ability to better oneself. No way to participate in society when you are locked out in every way with no hope of your future being any brighter or even improved by following the every changing and increasing harsh laws/punishments.
Endless suffering is all we have to look forward while some corrupt politicians and lobbyists like Ron and Lauren Book profit from their lies and hate based rhetoric.
It is going to be nearly impossible when even the court system today uses the same old false data used to “justify” these hate based restrictions/punishments which do harm not only to ex-offenders but also the very children they claim to protect!
The problem is there going to the victims to get advice on how to handle the situation. The trouble with that is because of anger the victim is irrational. I was burglarized several times in another residence 20 yrs. ago I new who was doing it but the police kept saying they couldn’t get a search warrant unless I had proof it was him. I was very angry and would have probably killed him if I had a chance. Was I the right person to go to at the time to make legislation to solve the problem. Yet that is what they are doing with the SOR. Since when did this become the way to handle things?
As the article says, the amendment proposed STILL will not restore RSOs voting rights. So in essence, why should I even care or hold out any hope? And I mean, are RSOs and murderers mentally incapable of casting an educated vote?? The amount of control that politicians enact over us has just gotten ridiculous. They make the laws that we have no say so over, no matter how many phone calls or letters we write in opposition to it. And then they manipulate those laws to get us caught up in stings or set up other traps for us to fall into their system, and then don’t want to restore our rights when we pay our debt and jump through their hoops. Man, politicians sure have it made. I went into the wrong line of work out of college. Dang.