"They create two categories of restoration of civil rights, essentially violent and non-violent offenses," explained clemency lawyer Reggie Garcia. " If it’s a non-violent offense, you have to wait five years from the conclusion of prison or probation before you can apply for clemency. If it’s one of the 35 enumerated more violent felonies or more serious felonies that waiting period is seven years."
The result:
“I think in four years’ governor Crist and the cabinet approved...125,000," Garcia said. "...In eight years Governor Scott’s approval of the restoration of civil rights... was under 4,000.”
