P R E S S   R E L E A S E
from
F L O R I D I A N S   FOR   A L T E R N A T I V E S
                                   TO THE DEATH PENALTY   (FADP)

2 February 2005

CONTACT:
Abe Bonowitz: 800-973-6548


FADP APPLAUDS PRESIDENT BUSH STATEMENT ON DEATH PENALTY, EQUAL JUSTICE, AND
WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS

Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty congratulates and applauds
President Bush for his statements about the appalling state of the criminal
justice system in the United States.  The statements were made as part of
the annual State of the Union address made on Wednesday evening (See text
below).

"For Mr. Bush to acknowledge that these problems exist is a major leap
forward," said Abe Bonowitz, director of the state wide group based in
Gainesville.  "As Governor of Texas, Mr. Bush executed 152 prisoners, many
of whom would have benefited from the improvements to the legal system that
he spoke about tonight.  The same is true for the 59 prisoners executed in
Florida and the more than 360 prisoners who await death in our state.  We
look forward to working with the Florida Legislature to address the issues
that President Bush has flagged."

See FADP's Legislative Agenda at http://www.fadp.org/2005legislativeAgenda.html.

For further comment please contact Abe Bonowitz at 800-973-6548 or
<abe@fadp.org>.

(portion of) TEXT OF PRESIDENT BUSH'S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS

[Below are the text comments of President Bush's State of the Union address
relating to criminal justice and death penalty issues}

"Because one of the main sources of our national unity is our belief in
equal justice, we need to make sure Americans of all races and backgrounds
have confidence in the system that provides justice.

" In America we must make doubly sure no person is held to account for a
crime he or she did not commit, so we are dramatically expanding the use of
DNA evidence to prevent wrongful conviction.

"Soon I will send to Congress a proposal to fund special training for
defense counsel in capital cases, because people on trial for their lives
must have competent lawyers by their side."

(source: Associated Press)


SENT BY:

Abraham J. Bonowitz
Director


           Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP)

           800-973-6548    http://www.fadp.org    <fadp@fadp.org>
                 PMB 335, 2603 DR. Martin Luther King Jr. Hwy
	                      Gainesville, FL  32609

Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty works for restorative
justice in the form of effective alternatives to the death penalty.  It
does so by
     # supporting and coordinating the work of organizations and individuals
     # educating and energizing the general public and state legislators
     # supporting the many persons affected by capital crime and punishment
     # advocating specific legislative improvements