MEDIA ADVISORY FROM

FLORIDIANS FOR ALTERNATIVES TO THE DEATH PENALTY (FADP.org)

Maryland Governor Declares Moratorium on Executions
FADP urges Florida Governor Jeb Bush to Call TIME OUT on Executions in Florida!

In the wake of the declaration of a moratorium on executions in Maryland, Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty reiterates its call to Governor Bush to acknowledge the need for drastic reform in Florida's death penalty system by declaring a formal moratorium on executions in Florida, and by establishing an unbiased and independent study panel in Florida to make recommendations for change. Maryland Governor Parris Glendening declared a halt to all executions in his state today pending release and General Assembly review of a study of racial bias currently in progress at the University of Maryland College Park. The executive order comes as Maryland was preparing to execute Wesley Baker next week.

"Florida is under a de-facto moratorium on executions due to the Ring v. Arizona case currently before the US Supreme Court," said Abe Bonowitz, director of the Tequesta-based Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. "We call on Governor Bush to formalize that "Time Out" on executions. In fact, Florida can save a lot of time and money simply by adopting many of the recommendations for reform which were recently made by the commission established by Illinois Republican Governor George Ryan."

Illinois Governor Ryan declared a moratorium in that state in January, 2000 after finding Illinois had executed 12 prisoners but released 13 from its death row after it was shown that they were innocent. In Florida, 24 prisoners have been exonerated from death row, and there are a number of others whose cases are pending. It is time for a Time Out on Executions in Florida.

To see the Illinois Moratorium Commission Report, visit: <http://www.idoc.state.il.us/ccp> For "The Florida Problem," visit: <http://www.fadp.org/thefloridaproblem.html>

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SENT BY:

Abraham J. Bonowitz
Director

Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP)
800-973-6548
fadp@fadp.org
www.fadp.org
PMB 335, 2603 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Hwy,
Gainesville, FL 32609

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