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Task force to aid ex-felons Created
Gov. Jeb Bush announced the creation of a task force that will help eliminate barriers to ex-felons reentering communities.
By Mary Ellen Klas
meklas@herald.com
February 08, 2005
TALAHASSEE - Noting that more than 26,000 felons will be released from prison this year, Gov. Jeb Bush created a task force Monday to find ways to eliminate barriers to ex-felons trying to reenter the community.
The 11-member panel, called the Governor's Ex-Offender Task Force, will be appointed exclusively by the governor and be charged with, among other things, finding ways to offer employers greater confidence in hiring ex-offenders, reducing the number of inmates who return to prison and reducing the cost to the state.
The governor did not include among the tasks of the panel any mention of the state's practice of automatically stripping felons of their civil rights. The regulation forces them to complete a lengthy process to have their voting rights and other privileges restored.
The creation of the task force comes on the heels of an announcement by two top Republican lawmakers, Sens. Alex Villalobos and Stephen Wise, that they will pursue an amendment to Florida's Constitution to repeal the state's automatic ban on civil rights for ex-felons unless Bush decides to change the policy.
Bush has not commented on the proposal, but has historically rejected the idea of restoring rights to felons automatically, citing public safety and other concerns.
In creating the task force, Bush cited his brother's State of the Union speech last week in which President Bush espoused the American ideal of giving people a second chance and noted: ``When the gates of the prison open, the path ahead should lead to a better life.''
''Successful reentry and reintegration in one's community is a matter of critical import to the public's safety,'' Gov. Bush's executive order stated, ``but reentry is often not a success due to the barriers ex-offenders face upon their release.''
Among the barriers the
governor identified: 'a lack of education and job
skills, employment discrimination, mental health and
substance abuse problems, access to drivers' licenses,
child support enforcement regulations, access to public
housing and other public benefits, and frayed or fragile
family and community ties.''
GOVERNOR APPOINTS SEVENTEEN TO THE NEWLY CREATED
GOVERNOR’S EX-OFFENDER TASK FORCE
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: JACOB
DIPIETRE
FRIDAY,
APRIL 22, 2005
(850) 488-5394
TALLAHASSEE -- Governor Jeb Bush today announced the following appointment:
Governor’s Ex-offender Task Force
- Stephen R. MacNamara, 52, of Tallahassee, associate vice president for academic affairs and associate professor with Florida State University, appointed for a term beginning April 21, 2005 and ending at the pleasure of the Governor. Mr. MacNamara will serve as chairman of this task force.
· Ira L. Barbell, 59, of Columbia, Maryland, senior associate with Anne E. Casey Foundation, appointed for a term beginning April 21, 2005 and ending at the pleasure of the Governor.
· Franchatta J. Barber, 45, of Tallahassee, deputy assistant secretary of Institution Programs with the Department of Corrections, appointed for a term beginning April 21, 2005 and ending at the pleasure of the Governor.
· Anthony J. Schembri, 62, of Tallahassee, secretary of the Department of Juvenile Justice, appointed for a term beginning April 21, 2005 and ending at the pleasure of the Governor.
· Susan E. Pareigis, 45, of Tallahassee, director of the Agency for Workforce Innovation, appointed for a term beginning April 21, 2005 and ending at the pleasure of the Governor.
· Jose M. Boscan, 35, of Winter Garden, manager with Walt Disney World Company, appointed for a term beginning April 21, 2005 and ending at the pleasure of the Governor.
· Carol Law, 64, of Pensacola, president of Drug Free Workplace, Inc., appointed for a term beginning April 21, 2005 and ending at the pleasure of the Governor.
· Henree D. Martin, 59, of Tallahassee, owner of Developers Realty and Investment Properties, Inc., appointed for a term beginning April 21, 2005 and ending at the pleasure of the Governor.
· Wayne E. Rawlins, 45, of Pembroke Pines, community justice consultant, appointed for a term beginning April 21, 2005 and ending at the pleasure of the Governor.
· Robert P. Blount, III, 32, of Tampa, president of Abe Brown Ministries, Inc., and program coordinator with Hillsborough Community College, appointed for a term beginning April 21, 2005 and ending at the pleasure of the Governor.
· Bernard “Bernie” DeCastro, 60, of Ocala, executive director of Time for Freedom, Inc., appointed for a term beginning April 21, 2005 and ending at the pleasure of the Governor.
· Michael A. Bernstein, 52, of Seminole, president and chief executive officer of Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services, Inc., appointed for a term beginning April 21, 2005 and ending at the pleasure of the Governor.
· Monica A. David, 45, of Tallahassee, chairwoman of the Florida Parole Commission, appointed for a term beginning April 21, 2005 and ending at the pleasure of the Governor.
· T. Edward Austin, 78, of Jacksonville, former state attorney, public defender and mayor of the City of Jacksonville, appointed for a term beginning April 21, 2005 and ending at the pleasure of the Governor.
· Annette R. Martinez, 40, of Lakeland, fire operations manager with State Farm Insurance Companies, appointed for a term beginning April 21, 2005 and ending at the pleasure of the Governor.
· Vicki Lukis, 47, of Coral Gables, volunteer, appointed for a term beginning April 21, 2005 and ending at the pleasure of the Governor.
· Ralph P. Martin, 29, of Miami, paralegal with Duane Morris, LLP, appointed for a term beginning April 21, 2005 and ending at the pleasure of the Governor.
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For More on Felon Rights restoration Governor Bush Changes Clemency Laws
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