A Dialog With Neil Volz About Restoring The Civil Rights Of Individuals Who’ve Served Time In Jail – Central Florida Information – Intersection

The Florida Rights Restoration Coalition bus stops at a stop at the Orange County Election Office in Orlando, November 2019. Photo by Matthew Peddie, WMFE / File

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Last November, Neil Volz was one of more than 11 million Floridians to cast a vote in the presidential election. It was an important moment for Volz. He is a returning citizen: he was imprisoned for a crime and, thanks to the passage of Amendment 4, he was able to vote two years earlier.

Volz, the assistant director of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, says much remains to be done to restore the civil rights of those who have convicted crimes and to protect the rights of those who are still behind bars.

He joins Intersection to discuss the FRRC’s bus tour, what he’s keeping an eye on this legislature, and the impact the pandemic is having on people in prison.

“Our North Star is the long-term empowerment of people with previous criminal convictions in the state of Florida,” says Volz.

“So we knew that Amendment No four was only one step along the way. And it was a big step. “

According to Volz, the pandemic has exacerbated the challenges for people with previous criminal convictions as they work to find work, housing and restore their voting rights.

“It also showed us the challenges of helping people who are currently incarcerated. The idea that Florida was almost one of the last states to provide vaccines to people currently in jail as well as people in jail work, “says Volz.

“That was really worrying because at the end of the day we didn’t have to do that. It was a decision that was made. So we know we need to keep talking to people and reminding them that we all deserve dignity, that every single person deserves dignity and honor, no matter where they are. “