|
Felons' Civil Rights: Should former felons have their civil rights automatically restored once they've served their sentences?
Comment: I am a former felon but I've done my time and now I am starting a family and it hard to get a good job that will help support my family. from Milton Fl by Barry
Comment: As each was adjudicated a
felon indevidualy, each should
should be considered for rein-
statement of rights individual
y. Those convicted of violent
crimes should never be given
the opportunity. Prior to ap-
plication all parameters: fines, repayments, sentences,
paroles must be satisfied.
Funding for any agency to be
paid by the felons upon ap-
plication. from Pensacola, Florida by Robin
Comment: Yes, I do believe their rights should be restored...if not how do we expect them to get a job to support themselves? They will be back in prison for a lack of a way to survive. They have done their time now let's give them a chance to make a living. If our system would offer some type of training and/or college they would have a better chance of getting a good job. from Pensacola, FL by Dinah
Comment: Once a person has paid his/her debt to society that debt is paid! Anything extra is cruel and unusual punishment. from Pensacola, FL by Mary
Comment: As a felon myself, it's a hard fight to get your rights reinstated, it took me 5yrs after I had served my sentence. And in that time, it was hard for me to do anything, from getting a good paying job, to starting my own business. But now I do have my own business, and I feel for thoes who are fighting this battle. If we had our rights reinstated upon completing out sentence, we'd have more productive members of societ, and as well take away the fear of all the paperwork, because it's a mile high.
Comment: Anytime one has served their time their rights should automatically be restored. Not to do that unfairly impinges upon their rights to reside fairly in society. from Pensacola, FL by Brenda
Comment: They have served their time
their rights should be restored. from Pensacola, FL by Patricia
Comment: Convict if they can not make ends meet and get a decent job, then they are going to turn to the streets to sell drugs or rob you or me. We all make mistakes in our life but we should not have to be punished the rest of our lives for them, especially if we have paid our debt to society. Look at Jim Paul he will probably have a conviction and must his life change so dramatically that this mistake hangs over his head the rest of his life; where he can not provide for his family. Prison is suppose to be a Rehabilitation for criminals what is the use if we are going to keep them incarcerated while they are rehabilated and free. We are not giving them a chance to show that they can be a better person. from Pensacola, FL by Trina
Comment: Rights could be restored when (1) restitution as directed by the courts has been established(and followed) . (2)The right to own a firearm should not ever be given to a fellon who used any weapon in the course of a crime.(3) Voting rights restored after four years of release with no further violations of the law. from Mary Esther, FL by Larry
Comment: By commiting a crime, they give up the right to Vote, carry a weapon legally and other things. There are consequences to ALL actions. Life has risks, no matter what liberals think. from Mobile/AL by John
Comment: I think they shouldn't gets rights restored immediately; but clemency boards should grant voting and business licenses rights immediately after a 6 month waiting period upon release; however right to bare arms should be restricted for at least 24 months after release for none violent offenders; but 10 yrs for violent offenders minimum. from Pensacola, Fl by Rickie
Comment: I feel that they should have their rights restored. Because they have served their time according to the law. They need something to look forward to once they get out, it might make all the difference on whether they get out and do the same thing they did before they went in or whether they are going to change their life. True enough no one knows the outcome but don't nothing hurt but a try. If they don't want to do right, they will eventually hang themselves. from Pensacola, FL by Sherretta
Comment: They should be allowed to find meaningful employment rather than resorting back to life of crime. from Pensacola, Fl by Joyce
Comment: I was charged and convicted of 28 felonies that investigators had no evidence of. They testified at my hearing that had i not come forward to confess, they never would have caught me. I was 16 at the time of the offenses and served almost 10 years in prison. Now i am married and just laid off a job where i made $700 per week salary. It is extremely hard to obtain a high paying job. I was about to purchase a new home.For the mistakes made as an ignorant kid, now i pay every day for the rest of my life? That doesnt seem right. Yes i did wrong and deserved punishment. I paid it. Can i move on? No because my crimes were violent. I didnt qualify for automatic restoration upon release. I filed with the Clemency Board in March 2005 and have not received a response. It was hard enough getting released from FSP with no adult experience. I had to learn to drive, write a check, how credit works, etc... It doesnt seem however that i can get forgiveness. Thanks. from PACE,FL. by CHRISTOPHER
Comment: if they served the time they shouldn't have to pay more from molino by aundrea
Comment: i say no to a extent. getting business licenses or voting is ok with me but such things as right to own a gun...i am against! they have paid their dues? ok...and they have fully repaid their victims for the "civil rights" they violated? for self gain? most likely answer is no! once a criminal...always will be a criminal! from p'cola by h
Comment: As a convicted felon, I am still trying to overcome a great number of objectives. I understand I made a poor decision and I have served my punishment. Even though I make an effort to remain a productive member of society, the countless rejections still exsist. So the restoration of my civil rights would not only be a stepping stone, but a closer step towards feeling normal again. from Pensacola, Florida by Shay
Comment: Automatic restoration: absolutely not. I agree that on a case-by-case basis restoration is a very real possibility; however, to give a Ted Bundy or Jack-the-Ripper type of felon an automatic restoration of civil rights is ridiculous. White collar type felons (rubber check writers as an example) deserve a second look, after they have paid their debt to society. True habitual felons don't deserve it. After all, that's why felons lost civil rights to begin with----they did nothing to earn that consideration. I also agree that something has to be done to revamp the current system, but automatic restoration is not the answer. from Mary Esther, FL. by Tom
Comment: If all time has been served and the probation has ended; There debt is paid and rughts should be restored. from Fort Walton Beach, FL by Grandpa
Comment: I believes that after a convicted felon serves his/her sentence he/she shall be giving their chance and live a normal life an treated as him/her never be in trouble with the law from pensacola fl. by gloria
Comment: As it has been said, "They have done their time, they have served their sentence, they have learned their lesson." from 801 Bartow Ave by Felecia
Comment: I think that after a felon does his time there should be a grace period. Depending on the sentence have a grace period, like probation. Say the sentence is 5 years have a 3 year probation, if they have a clean record after, then restore the privlige. And remember it is a privlige. from Ft Walton Beach by Allen
Comment: every one deserves a second chance providing they did no harm to another human being. from pensacola fl by kathy
Comment: In some cases that would be a great idea. just because someone has a felony does not mean that they have nothing to contribute back to society. If it is not a violent or heinous crime and they have served the required sentence, the YES i honestly believe so. from crestview by kenny
Comment: In general I think rights should be restored once their time is served. from Gulf Breeze, FL by Lynette
Comment: Aren't there degrees of felonies? If so, should that come into the decision as to who is eligible? Perhaps a person who has paid his dues for one felony (non-violent), should be given more consideration than one who has multiple violent felonies. There should be guidelines for the different degrees of felonies. I do think people deserve a second chance. from Pensacola, Fl by Aimee
Comment: Go through the reqired steps then you MIGHT be restored. PUT THE LEE KID IN LOCK UP! HE IS NO BETTER THAN ANY CONVICT!!!!! from Cantonment /Fl by ralph
Comment: I think they should be restored after the first felony. from Pensacola, FL by Dennis
Comment: once they have completed their sentence they should have all there rights retored . from pensacola fl. by d
Comment: Yes, say they have not been arrest again within a period of 8to 10 years. Because, this is American the land where we try to forgive after a period of time if that person has pour his or herself to the U.S.A then forgiven's is called for! from Jay,Fl. by David
Comment: im a felon and i think that you should atleast earn the rights. it should not just be given upon release. from pensacola by sean
Comment: Of course business licenses are important, but the major concern for many, especially in an election year, is the right to vote. Only patriots want to vote anyway. Thorough rotters won't even bother to vote because they only care about themselves, not their country. Unfortunately, most felons are poor and uneducated--that's why they turn to crime. Poorly educated citizens generally have zero interest in politics and don't even bother to vote anyway. (I speak from personal acquaintance.) Therefore, there is little risk in restoring voting rights, as only patriotic citizens care about voting anyway. from Pensacola by Faith
Comment: If they have served the time they should have their rights restored. from Brewton/Al by Lisa
Comment: If u did the time, the least you could get back is your dignity. I mean don't feel hopeless for all felons, there are some good ones out there that do want to change.But when your denied a oppurtunity how can you suceed.Don't treat them like an outcast when all they have is hope. so, my comment is, Give them a chance. from Pensacola by Keyna
Comment: I think the rights should be restored after 5 years with no other arrest or problems from Century, FL by Jennifer
|
