![]() ![]() Specifically, the class action lawsuit was brought against the Florida Department of Children and Families and the U.S. In contrast, the average food-stamp recipient only receives between $80 and $150 per month, and more than half stop using the benefits after 36 months.Įarlier this year, a lawsuit settlement between state government officials and community groups opened the door to over 150,000 Floridians who had been denied food assistance. anyone convicted of a crime that was not a drug crime) are still able to receive the benefits.Īlthough this plan was put in place back in the late 1990s, unfortunately, Florida still has the partial ban on food stamps in place for felons, and legislators are now proposing to also add work requirements onto Medicaid.īecause Florida ended up incarcerating the added felons, the food-stamp ban actually cost Florida more money than states that never cracked down on those benefits. Some are now calling the food stamp ban specifically a civil rights issue, given that other convicted felons (i.e. Sadly, this is one of many “benefits” that have been denied to Florida citizens simply because they have a record: Florida is also one of three states where felony convictions permanently strip ex-felons of their voting rights, regardless of the crime and the time passed. In addition, the ban clearly places an ex post facto punishment on those who have already served their time for drug crimes. Specifically, researchers found that former felons “turned back to crime”–monetary-based crimes-just to make ends meet after being denied access to social-welfare programs after leaving jail. ![]() According To New Study, Florida Ban on Food Stamps for Ex-Felons with Drug Convictions Has Increased Arrest RatesĪccording to a new study, prison recidivism rates increased after Florida passed a law banning felons with drug convictions from receiving food stamps. ![]()
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