CLEMENCY BOARD WRONG ON EX-FELONS' RIGHTS

Reintegrating convicted criminals into our communities has long been a
problem. Prisons are warehouses for many nonviolent offenders, drug
addicts, the mentally ill and the poor. This week's action by the
Clemency Board, made up of the governor and the Florida Cabinet ("Wait
for felons' rights reinstated"), which impedes the timely restoration
of rights for those who have completed their sentences, should have
been carefully scrutinized.

Given our sluggish economy, lifting obstacles to employment should be
a priority. Permitting ex-offenders to vote would help them feel they
have a stake in our communities. Policies that sound tough on crime
often produce unforeseen results that contribute to crime. I do not
question the motives of our distinguished attorney general, Pam Bondi,
who first raised this issue, but I do question the rationale for her
proposal.

BARRY M. COHEN

West Palm Beach

Editor's note: Barry Cohen is a Palm Beach County judge.