TALLAHASSEE - Desmond Meade served time for cocaine possession and aggravated battery, but turned his life around and overcame the drug and alcohol addictions that forced him to live on the streets of Miami. Seven years after walking out of state prison, Meade, 44, is in law school and helps run a halfway house for […]

The October edition of Reggie Garcia’s blog on executive clemency, parole and criminal justice issues in Florida.

Legislature Creates "Hard Path Back" to Increase Public Safety. Read more.

On September 13, 2011- Reggie Garcia was featured in the Fort Meyers News Press. Florida taxpayers would be shocked to learn 102,000 inmates reside in our state prison system, untold thousands more in federal prisons and county jails, and 153,000 felons on criminal probation. Why should Floridians pay attention to clemency laws? Well, besides the […]

According to a study released by the Florida Parole Commission in July 2011, former offenders who had their civil rights restored were less likely to return to prison. The Commission examined 31,000 released prisoners from 2009 to 2010, and found around 11 percent of those who regained their civil rights were re-incarcerated. In contrast, the […]

On September 13, 2011- Reggie Garcia was featured in the Fort Meyers News Press.Florida taxpayers would be shocked to learn 102,000 inmates reside in our state prison system, untold thousands more in federal prisons and county jails, and 153,000 felons on criminal probation. Why should Floridians pay attention to clemency laws? Well, besides the public […]

Clemency, new law will assist felons in new life By Reginald R. Garcia August 28, 2011 Floridians have a vested interest in assisting felons who want to re-enter society, become law-abiding citizens and ensure they stay on the straight-and-narrow path. Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet recently approved new clemency rules to require specific waiting […]

          On August 6th & 7th, Reggie Garcia was quoted on the recent Florida Parole Commission study regarding clemency restoration of civil rights: “This report shows clemency is working very well, as 89 percent of convicted felons granted a second chance have not re-offended,” said Reggie Garcia, a Tallahassee lawyer who […]

Click here to read the May 2011 article Florida Executive Clemency: Seeking Mercy and Justice for Convicted Felons by Reginald R. Garcia, Esq. Florida Governor Rick Scott and the three state-wide elected members of the Florida Cabinet, acting as the Board of Executive Clemency (“the Board”), unanimously approved new clemency rules effective March 9, 2011. […]