May 05, 2008 State Senator Gary Siplin (D) Orlando announced today that he, his legislative staff and community volunteers will be assisting ex-offenders on May 10, 2008, at the first of several Restoration of Civil Rights Outreach workshops planned for the Orlando area this summer. The workshop will be held at the Englewood Neighborhood Center, 6123 La Costa Street Orlando, Florida 32801 from 9am -12pm and at the Robert Guevara Community Center at 501 Florida Parkway, Kissimmee, Fl 34743 from 1pm-3pm.
Senator Gary Siplin (D) stated that the workshop is aimed at reaching ex-offenders who may be eligible for an expedited version of civil rights restoration adopted April 5, 2007 by the Clemency board. The new rule change, spearheaded by Governor Charlie Crist with the support of Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson and Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, provides for the automatic restoration of civil rights for certain ex-offenders who qualify under the new rule. Rights being restored are: the right to vote; the right to serve on a jury; the right to apply for certain occupational licenses; and the right to hold public office. This does not include the right to own a firearm.
The new rule states that the civil rights of ex-offenders who have committed less severe crimes would qualify for approval without a hearing if they: have completed their sentence as well as all conditions of supervision, including probation; have no pending criminal charges; have paid all victim restitution; and have not committed certain severe offenses or qualify as a habitual violent offender, violent career criminal or sexual predator. The rule also provides for clemency board review and approval of certain offenders who have committed severe crimes by means of a Preliminary Review List, without the need for a full hearing.
Senator Gary Siplin is encouraging all interested persons seeking information on the rights restoration process to attend the workshop. Trained volunteers, he said, will be on hand to provide information and to assist them where needed. Additionally, volunteer staff will be able to check and provide on site information to persons seeking to verify whether their rights have already been restored.
For information on this event or future scheduled workshops, please call the office of State Senator Siplin at the contact number listed above. For information on the restoration of civil rights process, please call the Office of Executive Clemency at 850-488-2952 or visit their website at http://fpc.state.fl.us/clemency.htm.
