There are now 26 people (soon to be 27!)
who have been exonerated from Florida's death
row. Four have been released just in the last few years, and others
are
awaiting release. When they are freed, the State of Florida gives
them the
same thing it gives every prisoner who gets released from
prison: $100. They cannot sue for wrongful imprisonment, and the
only
mechanism for compensation is an act of the State Legislature, which
is
highly unlikely and which would take years.
After Juan Melendez became the 24th person released, FADP was
inspired by
an effort by the Tallahassee Coalition for Alternatives to the Death
Penalty (TCADP), and launched the Exonerated Prisoner Relief Fund.
FADP
anticipates more releases from Florida's death row in the future -
there
are at least ten strong cases of possible innocence on Florida's
death row.
AUTHORIZED USES OF FADP'S EXONERATED PRISONER RELIEF FUND
PRIMARY: Upon release from death row, FADP expects to be able to give
every
newly exonerated death row prisoner at least $3,000 as soon as funds
are
available. Relief grants will vary depending on the success of fund
raising
for this project. The maximum relief granted to one individual thus far is $4,000,
although
we would love to be put into a position to increase that.
Donors may
designate
funds to be used exclusively for this purpose.
SECONDARY: If funds are available and no newly released prisoner is
awaiting a grant from this fund, the Exonerated Prisoner Relief Fund
may be
used to provide honoraria for survivors of wrongful conviction who
participate in FADP public education programs. Donors may also
designate
funds to be used exclusively for this purpose.
In either case, the only recipients of disbursements from the FADP
Exonerated Prisoner Relief Fund will be survivors of wrongful
conviction. Click here to read additional declarations about the
administration of this fund.
Click here to make a contribution using CUADP's secure server.
Or mail a check to:
"FADP Exonerated Prisoner Relief Fund"
PMB 335
2603 NW 13th St (AKA Dr. MLK Jr. Hwy)
Gainesville, FL 32609
ADDITIONAL DECLARATIONS:
All funds collected for the FADP Relief Fund are held in a separate
account
and will be used ONLY for the authorized purposes as described above.
Any donor to the Exonerated Prisoner Relief Fund may direct that
their
donation be given specifically to the prisoner who has been most
recently
released. Donations received without specific instructions will be
added
to the general fund and used for either of the purposes as described
above. In all cases, the primary purpose of the fund is to support
newly
exonerated death row prisoners.
Persons eligible to receive honoraria from this fund must be
recognized as
having been wrongly convicted, and must have faced the death
penalty. Honoraria may be distributed to survivors of wrongful
conviction
who were imprisoned outside of Florida, but only in consideration for
their
participation in public education activities within or related to
Florida.
FADP encourages other state abolitionist groups to establish similar
funds.
SPECIAL THANKS TO JONATHAN SOLOMON OF LOS ANGELES FOR SENDING THE
PROCEEDS
OF A RECENT POETRY JAM AS THE INITIAL GIFT TO THIS FUND.
The FADP Exonerated Prisoner Relief Fund is administered by
Floridians for
Alternatives to the Death Penalty, a project of Citizens United for
Alternatives to the Death Penalty.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO CUADP/FADP ARE NOT TAX DEDUCTIBLE
A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE
OBTAINED FROM THE [FL] DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL
FREE
800-435-7352 (FL only) OR 850-413-0840. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY
ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. REGISTRATION #
SC-11170. NO PROFESSIONAL SOLICITOR IS CURRENTLY ENGAGED WITH CUADP.
100%
OF ANY CONTRIBUTION GOES TO THE ORGANIZATION.
