QUICK FACTS BAR
State DOC: Florida Department of Corrections (FDC)
Parole: Florida Commission on Offender Review (FCOR) - note: most post-1983 offenders are not parole-eligible; serve mandatory portions of sentence
Medicaid expansion: YES (expanded 2023 - Amendment 7)
Voting rights: After full completion of sentence INCLUDING all fines, fees, and restitution (Amendment 4 with SB 7066 complications)
SNAP drug felony ban: Full opt-out - no ban
Expungement: Available - sealing and expungement; limited for felony convictions
Ban the box: No statewide law (some cities have local ordinances)
INTRO
Florida voters passed Amendment 4 in 2018 to restore voting rights to people with felony convictions upon completion of their sentence. Then the legislature passed SB 7066, adding a requirement that all fines, fees, court costs, and restitution must also be paid in full before voting rights are restored. This created one of the most complex and contested voting rights situations in the country - hundreds of thousands of Floridians have completed their prison sentence but cannot vote because of outstanding financial obligations they cannot afford. Understanding exactly where you stand on voting eligibility in Florida requires checking your specific financial obligations. Beyond voting, Florida expanded Medicaid in 2023, which dramatically improved healthcare access for returning citizens. This guide covers what to do and where to go.
FIRST 30 DAYS CHECKLIST
Day 1-3:
Report to your FDC probation officer or community control officer as directed. Florida's supervision conditions are enforced strictly - missing the first contact is a serious violation.
Day 1-7:
Obtain your Florida state ID or driver's license. Florida DHSMV: flhsmv.gov. FDC provides a state ID card to qualifying individuals at release. Bring: birth certificate or other proof of identity, Social Security card, proof of Florida residency.
Day 1-14:
Apply for Florida Medicaid. Florida expanded Medicaid in 2023. Most low-income adults now qualify. Apply at access.myflorida.com or call 1-866-762-2237. Income must be at or below 138% of the federal poverty level.
Day 1-14:
Apply for SNAP benefits. Florida has fully opted out of the federal drug felony ban - everyone meeting income and residency requirements is eligible. Apply at access.myflorida.com.
Day 1-30:
Determine your voting rights eligibility. This requires knowing: (1) whether you are on parole or probation (you cannot vote while on supervision in Florida), and (2) whether all fines, fees, court costs, and restitution have been paid. Check your case status at fcor.state.fl.us and contact the clerk of court in each county where you have convictions to determine outstanding financial obligations.
ID RESTORATION
Birth certificate:
Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics - floridahealth.gov/certificates. Cost: $9 for the first copy. FDC case managers can assist with pre-release birth certificate requests.
Social Security card:
SSA.gov/ssnumber. Free. Locate nearest office at ssa.gov/locator.
State ID / Driver's License:
Florida DHSMV - flhsmv.gov. FDC provides a state ID card at release for eligible individuals. Bring proof of identity, Social Security number, and Florida residency. Cost: $25 for ID card. Note: outstanding driver's license suspensions (from court fines, traffic violations, or child support) must be resolved before a license can be issued - check your driving record at flhsmv.gov before going to the DMV.
ID Assistance Programs:
Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (flrrc.org) assists with voting rights and some ID-related navigation. Legal aid organizations in each Florida circuit provide assistance.
VOTING RIGHTS
Florida's voting rights situation is complicated and requires individual verification.
The framework: Amendment 4 (2018) restored voting rights upon completion of sentence. SB 7066 (2019) added a requirement that all fines, fees, court costs, and restitution must be paid before voting rights are restored for most felony offenses. Murder and sex offenses require a direct application to the Florida Board of Executive Clemency - voting rights are not automatically restored for these offenses under Amendment 4.
What this means in practice:
- You must have completed your full sentence including any probation or supervision
- You must have paid ALL fines, court costs, fees, and restitution ordered in your case
- For murder or sex offenses: you must apply to the Board of Executive Clemency - automatic restoration does not apply
How to check your status:
- Florida Rights Restoration Coalition voter eligibility assistance: flrrc.org
- Check outstanding financial obligations: contact the clerk of court in each county of conviction
- Florida Clemency Board: flgov.com/clemency
Registering when eligible: vote.org/register-to-vote/florida or your county supervisor of elections office.
Florida Rights Restoration Coalition: flrrc.org - provides free assistance determining eligibility and navigating the process.
BENEFITS ACCESS
MEDICAID:
Florida expanded Medicaid in 2023 under Amendment 7 (Live Healthy), making it one of the last states to expand. Most low-income adults at or below 138% of the federal poverty level now qualify. Apply at access.myflorida.com or call 1-866-762-2237. This is a significant change from pre-2023 Florida, when most single adults returning from prison had no Medicaid option.
SNAP:
Florida has fully opted out of the federal drug felony ban. Everyone meeting income and Florida residency requirements is eligible for SNAP regardless of any drug felony conviction. Apply at access.myflorida.com.
TANF:
Florida has opted out of the SNAP drug felony ban but has modified (not fully eliminated) the TANF ban - conditions apply. Contact Florida DCF for current TANF eligibility specifics.
Housing:
Florida does not have a state-funded transitional housing program equivalent to many other large states. Reentry housing options are primarily through federal RRCs (for federal inmates), nonprofit organizations, and county-level programs. Miami-Dade, Broward, and Orange County have the most developed nonprofit reentry housing networks.
EXPUNGEMENT AND RECORD RELIEF
Florida Sealing (Section 943.059):
Available for one prior arrest record per lifetime where adjudication was withheld - meaning the court accepted a plea but did not formally convict. The arrest and charges are sealed from public view. The person can legally deny the arrest on most applications. Available for many misdemeanor and felony offenses that meet the criteria.
Florida Expungement (Section 943.0585):
Available for arrests that did not result in any conviction. More limited than sealing - requires the charges to have been dismissed, nolle prossed, or otherwise not resulting in adjudication or adjudication withheld.
Certificate of Eligibility: Apply through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) before filing with the court. FDLE reviews eligibility and issues a certificate. Cost: $75 application fee.
What cannot be sealed or expunged: Most felony convictions where adjudication was entered (i.e., the court formally convicted). Florida does not have a general mechanism to expunge felony convictions. Sexual offenses, violent crimes, and many other serious offenses are specifically excluded.
Legal resources:
- Florida Legal Services: floridalegal.org
- Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida - find local legal aid at floridalegal.org/LSC/find-legal-help
EMPLOYMENT AND LICENSING
Ban the box:
Florida has no statewide ban-the-box law. Private employers can ask about criminal history at any point in the application process. Some cities have local ordinances - Tampa and Jacksonville have enacted fair chance hiring ordinances for city contractors.
Occupational licensing:
Florida has enacted some fair chance licensing reforms. Certain licensing boards are required to conduct individualized assessments. However, Florida still has significant licensing restrictions across many professions for people with felony convictions. The specific restrictions depend on the profession and the offense.
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) oversees many Florida licenses. Contact DBPR at myfloridalicense.com to determine whether a specific conviction affects a specific license.
Employment assistance:
- CareerSource Florida: careersourceflorida.com - statewide workforce development network with reentry services
- Florida Department of Corrections reentry services: dc.state.fl.us/reentry
KEY FLORIDA REENTRY ORGANIZATIONS
Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FLRRC)
flrrc.org / (407) 955-0999 / Orlando (statewide)
Primary organization for voting rights restoration navigation. Also provides reentry advocacy and resources.
Reentry Coalition of Tampa Bay
reentrycoalitiontampabay.org / Tampa
Coordinates reentry services across Hillsborough County. Connects returning citizens with housing, employment, and benefits.
FORCE (Formerly Owned Resources and Corrective Environments) - Miami
forcesociety.com / Miami
Peer-led reentry support, advocacy, and community organizing for returning citizens in Miami-Dade.
Broward County Reentry Task Force
broward.org/reentry / Fort Lauderdale
County-coordinated reentry services including housing, employment, and benefits navigation in Broward County.
Bridges of America
bridgesofamerica.com / Multiple Florida locations (Orlando, Jacksonville, Tampa, others)
State-contracted residential reentry facilities providing transitional housing, substance abuse treatment, and employment services.
CareerSource Florida
careersourceflorida.com / offices statewide
Statewide workforce network. Local CareerSource offices provide reentry-specific employment services.
FDC Office of Re-Entry
dc.state.fl.us/reentry / (850) 717-3605
Official FDC reentry coordination. Pre-release planning, transition assistance, and community resource connections.
STATE DOC REENTRY PROGRAMS
Florida PRIDE (Prison Rehabilitative Industries and Diversified Enterprises):
Florida's prison industries program. Employment in PRIDE industries provides wages, work skills, and experience that transfers to reentry employment.
Transition Assistance Program (TAP):
FDC's pre-release program providing employment readiness, life skills, and community resource connections. Operates at release units.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health programming:
FDC contracts with community providers to deliver substance abuse treatment and mental health services both inside institutions and during supervision.
HALFWAY HOUSES LINK BLOCK
Find halfway houses and reentry housing in Florida ->
inmateaid.com/halfway-houses/florida/
Florida has federal Residential Reentry Centers under BOP Residential Reentry Management Atlanta (covers FL, GA, SC, NC, AL, MS, TN, KY). State-contracted transitional housing is primarily operated by Bridges of America and similar Florida-licensed providers. Miami-Dade, Broward, Orange, and Duval counties have the most options.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Does completing my prison sentence mean I can vote in Florida?
A: Not necessarily. Florida's Amendment 4 restores voting rights upon completion of sentence, but SB 7066 added a requirement that all fines, fees, court costs, and restitution must also be paid. You must also have completed all probation or supervision. For murder or sex offenses, voting rights require a separate clemency application. Check your specific situation at flrrc.org - the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition provides free eligibility assistance.
Q: Can I get Medicaid in Florida after prison?
A: Yes - Florida expanded Medicaid in 2023. Most low-income adults at or below 138% of the federal poverty level now qualify. Apply at access.myflorida.com or call 1-866-762-2237. This is a major change from before 2023 when most returning citizens could not get Medicaid in Florida.
Q: Can my Florida record be expunged?
A: Florida allows sealing (where adjudication was withheld) and expungement (where charges were dismissed or not filed), but does not have a general mechanism to expunge most felony convictions where adjudication was entered. You are limited to one sealing or expungement per lifetime. Apply through FDLE at fdle.state.fl.us for a Certificate of Eligibility ($75).
Q: Does Florida ban the box?
A: No statewide law. Florida private employers can ask about criminal history at any point in the hiring process. Some cities including Tampa and Jacksonville have local fair chance ordinances for city contractors. Contact your local CareerSource office for employers who actively hire people with records.
Q: How do I get a Florida state ID after prison?
A: FDC provides a state ID card at release for eligible individuals. If not obtained at release, go to any Florida DHSMV office with proof of identity, Social Security number, and Florida residency. Note: outstanding license suspensions must be resolved first - check your record at flhsmv.gov. Cost: $25 for ID card. TruthFinder WIDGET Search Florida inmate and arrest records INTERNAL LINKS - inmateaid.com/halfway-houses/florida/ - inmateaid.com/reentry/ - inmateaid.com/reentry/myths-and-facts/ EXTERNAL LINKS (new tab) - dc.state.fl.us - access.myflorida.com - flhsmv.gov - flrrc.org - fdle.state.fl.us - careersourceflorida.com - findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov SCHEMA BreadcrumbList + FAQPage DATA SOURCES Voting rights: Amendment 4 (2018); SB 7066 (2019); FLRRC / ccresourcecenter.org Medicaid: kff.org expansion tracker / Amendment 7 (2023) SNAP: ccresourcecenter.org full opt-out confirmed Expungement: Florida Statutes 943.059, 943.0585 / FDLE Ban the box: National Employment Law Project Organizations: verified from individual organization websites FDC reentry: dc.state.fl.us/reentry
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