Working to Maintain and Improve Living Conditions for Death Row in Florida

The American Medical Association (AMA), known for its loud, clear voice on issues pertaining to its members' financial well-being (like Medicare physician payments or "liability reform"), has been considerably less articulate when it comes to their moral welfare. For example, on the subject of physician participation in executions, the AMA's stance is complex and usually articulated in a whisper.

The AMA's policy E-2.06 asserts that "an individual's opinion on capital punishment is the personal moral decision of the individual" but, nevertheless, admonishes that "a physician, as a member of a profession dedicated to preserving life when there is hope of doing so, should not be a participant in a legally authorized execution." When the execution method is lethal injection, the AMA further states that "selecting injection sites; starting intravenous lines as a port for a lethal injection device; prescribing, preparing, administering, or supervising injection drugs or their doses or types; inspecting, testing, or maintaining lethal injection devices; and consulting with or supervising lethal injection personnel" all constitute participation and are therefore forbidden.

The definition of "participation" is itself ambiguous. "Pronouncing" death (which involves monitoring an electrocardiogram and examining the "patient") is considered participation and is forbidden but "certifying" death is permitted. Attending or observing an execution as a physician is forbidden, but witnessing an execution in a totally non-professional capacity is allowed. It is forbidden for physicians to determine legal competence to be executed, but "testifying as to medical history and diagnoses or mental state as they relate to competence to stand trial" is permissible.

The AMA's stance on capital punishment is so muted that a survey of 1000 physicians published in 2001 demonstrated that over 40% of respondents would willingly participate in at least one act that is forbidden by the AMA, and 25% would perform multiple forbidden actions. Only 3% of the respondents were even aware that the AMA (or anyone else) had published any ethical guidelines on this issue.

Given these findings, is it surprising that physicians are frequent, and sometimes essential, participants in executions? Several states have made doctors integral to the killing process. Three doctors administered the first lethal injection in Illinois, a state that currently has a moratorium on capital punishment. In Nevada, a doctor examines each condemned prisoner to determine a site for venous access and prescribes the doses of the lethal drugs. In Ohio, a physician pronounces the inmate dead. In several past executions, doctors have provided advice about intravenous lines and, on one occasion, a surgeon inserted the intravenous catheter into a condemned man after the "execution team" was unable to.

In Georgia, doctors from the Medical College of Georgia have been present (as physicians) at several executions. Another physician is present to help with intravenous lines. In one case, this physician performed a central venous catheterization (a sophisticated procedure usually performed only in intensive care units or operating rooms) in order to allow the execution to proceed.

Lethal injection is a stain on the face of medicine. It defiles not only the doctor-participants, but it also corrupts all physicians, because the healing profession becomes a charade for murder. Physicians have an obligation to provide society with moral protection. Until capital punishment is abolished, doctors will be executioners. Therefore, in a loud, clear voice, AMA members should call for the abolition of capital punishment when its House of Delegates meets in Chicago on June 14-19, 2003.

From Rick Halperin (source: Jonathan I. Groner MD; Trauma Medical Director, Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio and Associate Professor, Clinical Surgery, The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Public Health)

Capital Punishment Stance by Presidential Candidate, Governor Howard Dean, M.D. of Vermont

Capital punishment is an emotional issue, but supporters and opponents can agree that the death penalty should only be imposed after a fair trial. In recent years more than 100 death row inmates have been exonerated in the United States. The Bush administration has ignored this crisis but my Administration will address it.

George Bush and John Ashcroft have carried out the federal death penalty in a reckless and overzealous manner. For example, Ashcroft has:

• overruled the judgment of local U.S. Attorneys who believed that the death penalty was unwarranted in specific cases.
• insisted on the death penalty for a defendant who had negotiated a plea to life without parole in exchange for the defendant's cooperation, thereby discouraging future defendants from cooperating.
• abandoned efforts by Janet Reno to root out racial and geographic disparity in the federal death penalty.

Ashcroft is bringing so many questionable death cases that federal juries consistently overrule him. The New York Times reports that juries have rejected Ashcroft's request for the death penalty in 15 of the last 16 federal capital trials.

Meanwhile, capital punishment is carried out unfairly in many states, but the Bush Administration has taken no steps to improve these state systems. Bush has ignored the Innocence Protection Act, proposed by Senator Leahy with wide bipartisan support, which would expand access to DNA testing and strengthen the quality of lawyers for defendants facing the death penalty.

I believe the death penalty should be available for extreme and heinous crimes, such as terrorism or the killing of police officers or young children. But it must be carried out with scrupulous fairness. I applaud former Illinois Gov. George Ryan, who imposed a moratorium rather than administer a system in which 13 innocent men were released from death row. In contrast, George Bush presided over a Texas court system in which dozens of men were put to death without adequate representation. Some had been represented at trial by lawyers who were sleeping or drunk.

As President, I would:

• Promptly instruct my Attorney General to evaluate the federal death penalty system, take steps to ensure that it is applied fairly and reliably, and reverse Ashcroft's overzealous policies.
• Push for passage of the federal Innocence Protection Act to strengthen protections against unjust imposition of the death penalty.
• Establish a Presidential Commission on the Administration of Capital Punishment to analyze the causes of wrongful convictions around the country and recommend additional reforms at the federal and state level.

First in Texas and now as President, George Bush has carried out the death penalty in a careless and negligent manner. I will handle this important responsibility very differently.

6/26/2003 Legal standard set for legal competency in death-penalty case

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court sided with a convicted killer in an important test of legal standards for death penalty cases, ruling Thursday that inexperienced lawyers failed their client at trial.

The court, by a vote of 7 to 2, threw out the death sentence of Kevin Wiggins, a borderline retarded man convicted of drowning an elderly Maryland woman who employed him as a handyman. The jury that sent Wiggins to death row never heard that he was repeatedly raped, beaten and denied food as a child, or that his mother burned his hands on the stove as punishment.

If jurors knew the ghastly details, they might well have chosen a life sentence for Wiggins, the high court majority said. Wiggins' conviction stands, but the court ordered a new sentencing hearing.

The Supreme Court has said the Constitution guarantees the right to an effective lawyer. Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, writing for the court, said the jury in Wiggins' case might have decided differently had it been given more information.

At issue was defense lawyers' constitutional duty to look into a client's past in hope of turning up something that could sway jurors against imposing a death sentence.

Such potentially mitigating evidence usually comes into play after conviction, during the separate sentencing phase of a capital trial. The sentencing phase often operates like a trial itself, with witnesses for the prosecution and the defense. Prosecutors sometimes present wrenching testimony from surviving relatives of the victim. Defense lawyers can counter with evidence about a defendant's past, and testimony from the convicted killer.

Since guilt is already established, a defense lawyer's only goal in the sentencing phase is to save a client's life.

Justice Antonin Scalia, in a dissent joined by Justice Clarence Thomas, said the court's reasoning in the ruling ranged "from the incredible up to the feeble" in giving Wiggins a second chance.

Wiggins' two original lawyers had almost no experience defending a capital case. They concentrated on trying to raise doubts about their client's guilt. Although the public defenders had some information about Wiggins' early life, they did not order the usual detailed background investigation that could be used to win sympathy from a jury.

A federal appeals court had ruled that the lawyers' performance was not unconstitutionally poor. They had some minimal information about their client's background and made an understandable choice to focus their efforts elsewhere, the appeals judges said.

O'Connor and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg have publicly expressed qualms about the quality of legal help available to many people accused of murder, but the court has sided with prosecutors in its two most recent cases dealing with the subject.

In this case they reversed the appeals court.

Opponents of the death penalty frequently lament the uneven performances of overworked or inexperienced lawyers appointed to represent poor people facing a possible death sentence. In Wiggins' case, even some death penalty supporters agreed.

A group of current and former prosecutors, including former Attorney General Janet Reno, sided with Wiggins in a friend-of-the-court filing.

In the opinion, O'Connor said the evidence of Wiggins' background that "counsel failed to discover and present in this case is powerful." She mentioned his abuse and rape as a child, and mental illness.

"We find there to be a reasonable probability that a competent attorney, aware of this history, would have introduced it at sentencing," she wrote.

Wiggins has always maintained he is innocent. He was caught driving the victim's car a few days after the killing, and had some of the victim's credit cards. No physical evidence tied him to the crime.

The case is Wiggins v. Smith, 02-311.

News from the Inside

What a quiet month this has been. Not much going on in regards to activities out side the group, and not a whole lot going on inside the group either. People off on vacation and away from the computer are a big part of it. There are plenty of news about the death penalty as such all over the states, and some you will find in this newsletter, some will be in the legal USA issue from this month. And all seems to be going in the right direction. Thank God.

Also new rule proposals out

This is part of a 7 paged rule proposal ---rule title: Use of force---rule number...33-602.210

Quote: pepper ball launching system (PLS) the PLS shall be used for designated confinement, close management and death row populations. The PSL is intended for dispersal of chemical agents in situations where the use of aerosol type agents would not be effective due to weather conditions or when their use could subject the officer or uninvolved inmates to injury. The PLS shall only be employed by officers trained in their use and effects.

PLS is classified as less-than-lethal...

((It contains of CAPSAICIN II) our quote)

*****************************************

And one more that you might find interesting: tobacco use

Quote: Use of any tobacco products shall be prohibited in all indoor areas of any building or office within a state correctional facility. Except for employee housing on department grounds and inmate maximum security (death row) housing area.
Only unlighted tobacco product use shall be permitted in death row housing.

We still get so much mail about the bad preparation of food, food poisoning and how the food is served. Cold, raw and plain nasty. It seems like the food coming to the prison is okay, it is the cooking that is going wrong completely. Please let us know if you have had medical problems due to the food being served. It might be something for other authorities to look into.

We are working on different things that might come to pass and then again, they might not. The bottom line is that we try - which is the only way we can find out if it is possible.

Issues being worked on: Movie donations for the internal TV channel. Book donations for death row and the library. The pictures in the park. The web page and the info package for the newcomers. We have people working on some sort of guide lines in regards to the heat and how you can cool your body down by controlling what you put in your mouth. YEPS! ----Some are looking into other death rows and use of fans etc… so things are happening.

As you will see, we have a birthday list in the newsletter- please note that if your name does not appear on the list for your month, your name has been requested off by members/penpals/wifes etc….

I guess that is all from here - for now! In many ways this has been a month of hope. It looks like things are easing up in the courts about things that truly matter in regards to your situation. Still - people are being moved from death row to population. Still people get new trials, and still people are in line to be released, some of you who should never have been there in the first place. And - amazingly enough, It looks like there are politicians running for office that have more than votes, war and evil on their mind. And who actually have guts enough to speak words that are not popular and not speaking to the lowest of our instincts. Maybe there is hope for this world after all.

May God bless you and give you all peace of mind and heart.

Hannah

Request from Us to You………..

More things we would like for you to help us with.

1. As you might know we are working on a Web page, and we need your participation to make it the way we vision it. First of all. We would like to have some sort of diary from you. A day/week/life on death row. We want to give the public a true picture of what life is like where you are. So please help us out with that. We will be back later explaining in details what we need for the web page, because this is just step one.
2. We are planning of having a Tee Shirt with the Group logo on, but also some image made by one of you. So.. We need a drawing/image that will be suitable for that purpose, - which means three colors only. Black, orange and white. Whatever image we chose from the suggestions we get, will also be the new image for the front page of newsletters and info - packages. The winning artist can chose two persons he would like to give a Tee shirt. The Tee shirts will be paid and send by FDRAG.
3. Last but not least. Please help us with poems and art for the newsletter. The newsletter does not only go to you guys but are being sent to people all over the states and are available on the internet also. So it might be good for you to show your art this way too.

All art is to be addressed to FDRAG- ART att: Lynne. The usual address.
If you wish your ART back it will be scanned and returned to you.
Thanks for your help. Hannah
PS: stamp donations are still more than welcome. Thanks to those of you who keep on blessing us with stamps too.

News from the Outside

May 21, 2003: Saying the "filthy conditions" on Mississippi's death row are so bad they violate the Constitution, U.S. Magistrate Jerry Davis ON Wednesday ordered mental health exams, better toilets and other improvements to help inmates who say they are being driven insane. "No one in a civilized society should be forced to live under conditions that force exposure to another person's bodily wastes," U.S. Magistrate Jerry Davis wrote. "No matter how heinous the crime committed, there is no excuse for such living conditions." The judge said the conditions at the Parchman prison constitute cruel and unusual punishment in isolation of the Eighth Amendment. He ruled in a lawsuit that alleged the harsh conditions were contributing to a high rate of mental illness among the prisoners. Davis ordered the state Corrections Department to undertake 10 actions to improve conditions at the prison. They include annual mental health checkups, better lighting, improved toilets, insect control and ways to keep inmates cool during the summer heat. Corrections Commissioner Chris Epps, who has said he does not consider Mississippi's death row any worse than others across the country, said he will meet with Davis next week to challenge some orders and seek clarification on others. Margaret Winter, associate director of the American Civil Liberties Union's National Prison Project, said she believed the ruling set a precedent for standards on death row. "Judge Davis really did the right thing here in recognizing the basic principle in our society that we treat everybody humanely, that we don't subject anybody to torture," she said. Co-counsel Steve Hanlon called the decision 'courageous.' "To my knowledge, it is the first successful prison conditions case on death row in America," Hanlon said. Sixty-six inmates are on death row at Parchman and a woman under a death sentence is at a women's prison unit outside Jackson.

Starvin' for Justice 2003, the 10th Annual Fast & Vigil at the U.S. Supreme Court

June 16, 2003 - Anti-death penalty activists from across the United States will converge on Washington, D.C. June 29 through July 2 for four days of activities commemorating the historic 1972 and 1976 Supreme Court rulings that suspended the death penalty in the United States and later allowed executions to resume. .

"The death penalty in 1972 was arbitrary and capricious and the death penalty in 2003 is arbitrary and capricious," said Abe Bonowitz, spokesman for the Abolitionist Action Committee. "The difference between 1972 and 2003 is that the abolition movement in the United States is now committed to a strategy of legislative repeal - organizing on a grassroots level, state by state, legislature by legislature. It is no longer a question of whether we will abolish the death penalty, but when."

Bonowitz said the primary goal of the June 29-July 2 activities is to educate the public. "This is the tenth year that we will stand vigil in front of the U.S. Supreme Court between the historic anniversaries of when all death penalty laws were thrown out in 1972 and when new laws were upheld in 1976," Bonowitz explained. "Our goal is to further educate the public about why the death penalty is a bad public policy, and we invite everyone to stand with us for alternatives to the death penalty. But the Fast and Vigil also serves as an opportunity for activists to come together and renew our commitment to the struggle for abolition."

Florida Bills
Changes to Judicial System

Bill #: SB1184 HB1929 Year: 2003

Bill Summary:

Amends numerous procedures and laws within judicial branch; among these changes, includes: amending standards for attorneys who handle capital cases; deleting provisions relating to limitations on representation by public defenders in direct appeals of death penalty cases.

Sponsors: Sen. Villalobos; Judiciary Committee; Appropriations Subcommittee on Article V Implementation and Judiciary

Status: introduced; referred to Judiciary; referred to Appropriations Subcommittee on Article V Implementation and Judiciary; committee substitute passed, 9 Y, 0 N; committee substitute for substitute passed, 5 Y, 0 N; withdrawn from Appropriations; placed on special order calendar; second reading; amendments adopted; ordered engrossed; third reading; committee substitute passed as amended, 38 Y, 0 N; in House messages 4/23/03

Advisory sentencing in capital cases

Bill #: SB120 Bill #: HB965 Year: 2003

Bill Summary:

This bill deletes provisions that require the jury to render an advisory sentence in capital cases. It provides for the court to review a sentence of death imposed by a jury. This bill authorizes the court to impose a sentence of life imprisonment if there are insufficient aggravating circumstances and sufficient mitigating circumstances.

Senate Status: On Criminal Justice

Committee Agenda for 01/08/03, 11:15 AM

House Status: on Judiciary agenda, not considered 4/9/03

Britta's Poetry Corner

"Be grateful to people who make you happy; they are the charming gardeners who make your soul blossom." (Marcel Proust, French author, 1871-1922)

Hello to all,
this quote should show you how I feel these days when I get all your wonderful things like poetry or art for my exhibition. I´m very busy to create the poem book and I make a webpage to show what´s going on. The idea is, that after the show the people who would be interesting in the poetry or art which we have on the exhibition could have a look on this page and that they could buy this after the show. Every of you would get a part on this page so you could explain a little bit about you or maybe you are looking after a penpal ? So everything what you gave me would be shown in anyway. So many thanks to make my soul blossom.
Britta
No Human Touch
By John Huggins FSP

There is a fate worse than death,
A fate few people have lived yet.
There is a place very close to hell,
Taken from the world, thrown in a cage.
Obey us or your live well be made a living hell.
Well is that not life already in this cell?
No windows, little light, no human touch.
Mesh wire across our bars.
No way to even see a star.
All done to try to break a mans soul.
Fear America, for you could fall into this hole.
No home, no life, no reprieve.
Yes there is a fate worse than death.
And so is the plan to break the soul of each man.
He, who is sane, will barely maintain.
The mind that is weak, death he will seek.
Yours or his own, the plan remain unknown.
Newton makes six out of twelve,
Who choose to leave this hell.
I'm just sitting here watching it go down
Right outside my cell.

Newton Slawson waived all appeals and was executed on 5/16/03 by the state of Florida


Smile
By Charlie Thompson UCI

It´s easy enough to be pleasant,
when life flows by like a song,
but the person worth wild is one
who will smile, even when
everything goes wrong, for the test
of heart is trouble and it always comes
with years, but the smile that is worth
the praise of the earth is the smile
that shines through the tears.

Charlie is now off Death Row and serving 2 life sentences


No Title
By Eddie Stryker UCI

He called me by name
From the time of my birth
Before I had met him
And valued his worth
He was able to see
That I had to have someone
To watch over me
SoHe picked
Me out an angel
My own special one
To guide me and protect me
Till living was done
You

Stand up: In Search of Democracy, Peace and Justice

On June 1st from 3-8 PM, students of Miami-Dade Community College, Florida International University and University of Miami sponsored "Stand up: In Search of Democracy, Peace and Justice" at the Unitarian Universalist Church in South Miami. Groups represented included: The Green Party, Miami for Peace, Amnesty International, Society for Peace and Justice and Miami Coalition Against the War and FADP.

The Festival was organized to promote peace and awareness of social issues in our society and to encourage action regarding these issues The focus was to allow the community to express feelings and explore concerns about civil and human rights.

There was music, speakers and many booths. Approximately 300 were in attendance, and interest in our table was good. Abe Bonowitz passed out literature about Johnny Melendez, T-shirts, books. Carolyn Gray, was there as well as Steve Jens-Rochow from Broward FADP, providing the tables and chairs. Sarah Owocki, spoke on Time out for the Death Penalty. Steve and I had Petitions for people to sign for the Time out for the Death Penalty and palm cards with orange ribbons to give to everyone that stopped to chat with us. We spoke at length to each interested party. Paul Hildwin's picture was on our table, along with Johnny Melendez. About 100 petitions were signed. It was a cool 93 degrees, so I know each one of you were there with us. I also gave out e-mail sights for my other Group the Florida Lolits and black and white ribbons for our complete inmate population. I explained to the people that stopped by my section the LOLITS were for Prison reform. In all I believe it was a very productive day.
Bea

Joachim's Art Corner

Hannah & Lynne's Spiritual Corner

Within each of us, is a spark of Light, which connects us to our Creator. This "corner", is not about religion or conversion. It is about each of us...our humanity... how we each at times, lose our direction and personal power, and how we may find them again. Our purpose for this segment is to encourage empowerment, discernment, hope, Oneness and the integration of spirituality into daily life, regardless of the name by which we call the One in the darkest nights of our souls. We welcome both comments and suggestions.

Cracked
A water bearer in China had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house." The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house."

Moral: Each of us has unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them.

At an airport I overheard a father and daughter in their last moments together. They had announced her plane's departure and standing near the door, he said to his daughter, "I love you, I wish you enough". She said, "Daddy, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Daddy." They kissed good-bye and she left.

He walked over toward the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?" "Yes, I have," I replied. Saying that brought back memories I had of expressing my love and appreciation for all my Dad had done for me, recognizing that his days were limited, I took the time to tell him face to face how much he meant to me. So I knew what this man was experiencing. "Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?" I asked. "I am old and she lives much too far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is, her next trip back will be for my funeral," he said.

"When you were saying good-bye I heard you say, 'I wish you enough.' May I ask what that means?" He began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone." He paused for a moment and looking up as if trying to remember it in detail, he smiled even more. "When we said 'I wish you enough,' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with enough good things to sustain them," he continued and then turning toward me he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory.

"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright. I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more. I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive. I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting. I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess. I wish enough "Hello's" to get you through the final "Good-bye." He then began to sob and walked away.

Our wish for each of you….is ENOUGH!!!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
The sorrows of life cannot be ended through hatred and injustice; these will only breed more of the same species. The sorrows will yield only to nobler and higher thoughts and experiences germinating from the pure heart, where the Lord resides. -BABA
The Challenge
The most natural thing in the world is to maintain a desire for something better than is the current situation. So, we give this desire form and invest it with feelings and emotions. Over time, this desire becomes colored with perceptions and takes on dream like qualities that distort reality. We become so attached to this dream that it drives our consciousness to the point where the dreamer becomes the dream. The door slams shut, then the dreamer awakes and a world of suffering appears.

Questions
1. What was your last dream before your current situation?
2. Are you a prisoner of your dream?
3. What will happen when your situation changes?

Yours in the Dharma
KC
Gateless Gate Zen Center
20 West University Ave. (Ste 301G)
Gainesville, Florida 32601


Happy Summer Solstice!
June 21st was the longest day and the shortest night of the year. The sun grows to its' full strength and summer starts. My group at church held our ritual last night with a bonfire in our church courtyard. We are reminded that nothing lasts forever and things must be let go of. This is the time to practice letting go of old things which have been part of our life. As we let go of things whatever it may be it gives us a chance to further grow. My friend built a wicker man Lugh for the fire and we decorated him with messages of hope and letting go, and he sends them to the other side which allows us to make new changes. The night was pretty cool as the spirits cleared the weather for our ritual until later in the evening by cooling us down by rain. I close with the following verse by Rudolf Steiner:

"In this, the 'Hour of the Sun,'
it is up to you to realize
the tidings of wisdom.
Surrendered to the world's beauty,
feeling yourself within yourself,
you are to experience this:
the human *I* can lose itself---
then find itself in the cosmic *I*."

July Birthdays

Crossword

Caroline’s List of FDRAG Services, Information and Resources

Legal Magazines/Newsletters

As some of you may be aware, the Florida Prisoners’ Legal Aid Organization publishes a small, bi-monthly magazine called Florida Legal Perspective. The cost is $9 for a one year subscription. Copies may be obtained from:
Florida Prison Legal Perspectives
P.O. Box 660-387
Chuluota, Florida 32766
(A public division of Florida Prisoners' Legal Aid Org, Inc)
fax (407)- 568-0200
email: fplp@aol.com
Website www.fplao.org

Legal In USA Newsletter

A small team of British women currently put together a monthly publication called Legal In USA. This is a free newsletter that is now circulated in over 48 States and contains articles on justice, legal rulings and the abolition of the death penalty. At the moment, all their distribution is carried out by a network of volunteers. Several FDRAG members already regularly receive the Legal In USA newsletter. We have a team of volunteers within our group who can mail a copy directly to you each month. To arrange this, please write to our FDRAG Box number at the bottom of this page and we will set up delivery for you as soon as possible. When writing in, please include your cell location – this is solely for the purpose of distribution being aware of the even circulation of the newsletter.

New Information Package

Topics covered in the pack include Welcome with contacts, unwritten rules about visiting, copy of visitation form, copy of visitation rules, direction to the facility & lodging info, how to send money to your loved one + more, rules about books and magazines etc., Mail rules, Innocence projects, Appeal process, useful links and much more. To get the package contact Jolanda, mentioned below.

For convenience and easy shipping, two of our members have also put the info package onto floppy disk and CD-Rom which can be obtained free of charge (although donations of stamps are always welcome) and sent directly to family members. Simply send your request details to either Lynne Baldwin (for disk version) or Jolanda Arends (CD Rom version)
c/o FDRAG
137 N Walnut St
Box 10
Starke, FL 32091.

Other Bits and Pieces

In last month’s edition of the newsletter we printed a list of projects across the US that supply books free of charge to inmates. Due to space limitation within the newsletter it won’t be possible to reprint those address details each edition. However, if you are interested in applying to these projects, FDRAG has produced a print-off sheet with the contact details for you to refer to. You can obtain a copy by writing to us at the FDRAG address at the bottom of the page. Please enclose a SAE or postage if possible.

FDRAG & MEMBERSHIP

This group is created by families and friends of death row inmates in Florida. It is a given that this group is against Capital punishment. It is however, not the purpose for this group to do anti-death penalty work, instead this group concentrates on making the living conditions for death row inmates tolerable. We also commit to work on making changes that will improve the quality of living in that particular environment called Death Row, and to help keeping the standard that already exists. Everyone who is willing to work for basic human rights is welcome. If you are looking for a group who does anti-death penalty work, we suggest you join one of the excellent groups already up and running. For further information please contact a member near you:

USA

Hannah Floyd, (Can be contacted for info on newsletter, membership, visiting, places to stay, transport etc.)
137 N Walnut St, #14
Starke, FL 32091
E-mail: Hannahfloyd@yahoo.com
Tel: 904-964-4303 or 904 964 7303

Janice Figueroa
1120 Wild Oak Terrace
Deland, FL. 32720
E-mail: Tfigu@aol.com
Tel: 386-738-3968

Karin Elsea, (Contact person for the DC/Maryland area)
1400 East West Highway, #710
Silver Spring, MD 20910
E-mail: Karinelsea@hotmail.com
Tel: 301-565-3246

Dianne Abshire
9673 State Rt 65
Ottawa, OH 45875
E-mail: afua@woh.rr.com
Tel: 419-523-5816
(Can also be contacted re: legal matters for the attention of Florida Support Group)

The Netherlands

Jolanda Arends, Treilerstraat 168
NL - 1503 JM Zaandam
E-mail: jolanda-arends@zonnet.nl
Tel: +31-75-616-4862
(FDRAG membership and info pack)