More evidence of system stacked against ex-felons

Felons released from prison in Florida can be forced to wait years before getting three minutes to explain why they should have their rights restored. Gov. Bush, whose vote is required to grant clemency, can reject a felon's plea without explanation. As The Miami Herald reported, he has toughened the rules, slowing an already overtaxed system to a near halt. Before Gov. Bush took office in January 1999, the average felon regained voting rights with a hearing five years after being released, the Herald found. Now, the average is eight years. Recently released felons who don't qualify for administrative review won't vote for president until 2012 -- if their three minutes goes well. If clemency is rejected, the applicant won't be told why. Under laws designed to protect witnesses, he can't review his own file to find out if it is accurate. Viewing those files is critical because the system is so fraught with error. The Herald found that computer glitches and poor communication dropped 100,000 felons from the clemency process from 1992 to 2001. It found that another 50,000 felons who served time in county jails were never offered a chance to apply. Florida is one of just seven states that don't automatically restore felons rights. About a half-million Floridians have not had their rights restored. [more]