Date: Mon, 3 Apr 2000 13:37:45 -0400 (EDT)
Message-Id: <200004031737.NAA03562@mattababy.mit.edu>
From: belmonte@mit.edu (Matthew Belmonte)
To: CapuanoHR8@aol.com
Subject: support HR 4078

Dear Representative Capuano

I write to urge your support of HR 4078, the Innocence Protection Act of 2000,
which is currently making its way through the Judiciary Committee.  As you are
no doubt aware, there recently has been bipartisan support for reform of the
mechanisms for defense in death penalty cases.  Indeed, when several cases of
death row inmates' being proven innocent recently came to light, the governor
of Illinois declared a moratorium on all executions.

The current system does not provide poor or indigent defendants adequate legal
counsel; in many cases, lawyers who have no experience at all in capital cases
are called to construct defenses in only a few days' time.  HR 4078 would
ensure that defendants in cases of capital crimes have access to adequate
counsel, and would also give them the right to have DNA testing performed on
any physical evidence.

I hope that you'll support HR 4078 if and when it comes to the floor, and also
that you'll consider adding your name as a co-sponsor while it remains in
committee.