Press Release

P R E S S   R E L E A S E
from
C I T I Z E N S   U N I T E D   FOR   A L T E R N A T I V E S
                    TO THE DEATH PENALTY   (CUADP)


2 February 2005

CONTACT:
Abe Bonowitz: 800-973-6548


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

Citizens United 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 national group based in 
Gainesville, FL.  "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@cuadp.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)


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SENT BY:

Abraham J. Bonowitz
Director, CUADP
<abe@cuadp.org>