David Kaczynski
Encyclopedia
David Kaczynski is the Executive Director of New Yorkers For Alternatives to the Death Penalty, and the younger brother of the "Unabomber" Theodore Kaczynski.
, "Industrial Society and Its Future," be published in a major newspaper as a condition for ceasing his mail-bomb campaign, the New York Times
and the Washington Post both published the manifesto, hoping somebody would recognize the writing style of the author.
David recognized Ted's writing style, and the experienced criminal defense lawyer he found notified authorities. They hoped to negotiate terms more favorable to Ted through a voluntary surrender than would result from an eventual capture and trial on capital charges. On April 3, 1996, police arrested Ted Kaczynski in his rural shack in Lincoln, Montana
. David had received assurance from the FBI that his identity as the informant would be kept secret, but his name was leaked to the media. In addition, he sought a guarantee from federal prosecutors that Ted would receive appropriate psychiatric evaluation and treatment. The Justice Department
's subsequent active pursuit of the death penalty for Ted and Attorney General
Janet Reno
's initial refusal to accept a plea bargain
in exchange for a life sentence was seen as a betrayal by David and other Kaczynski family members. Such a plea bargain eventually resulted, and Ted was sentenced to serve life imprisonment with no possibility of parole. David has said in broadcast interviews since his brother's arrest, that notifying federal authorities of his brother's possible involvement in the Unabomber case was a painful decision. But he felt morally compelled to do it in order to save lives that might have been taken had the bombings continued. David received the $1 million reward
the FBI
had offered for the Unabomber's capture; he donated most of the money to the families of his brother's victims and used the rest to pay off his legal expenses.
David was assistant director of the Equinox shelter for runaway and homeless youth in Albany, where he counseled and advocated for troubled, neglected and abused youth in the Capital District. His experience of having his brother confront the death penalty later motivated David to become an anti-death penalty activist. In 2001, David Kaczynski was named executive director of New Yorkers Against the Death Penalty (as of 2008 New Yorkers for Alternatives to the Death Penalty). While the mission of NYADP originally focused only on ending the death penalty, under David's guidance, in 2008, it broadened its mission to address in a progressive manner the unmet needs of all those affected by violence, including victims and their families. He regularly makes media and public appearances.
Kaczynski is a graduate of Columbia College of Columbia University
. He is also a practicing Buddhist
and is a vegetarian
.
In 2009 he published an essay about his relationship with his brother Ted, from childhood to adulthood, which appeared in a collection of essays.
Biography
After the anonymous Unabomber demanded in 1995 that his manifestoManifesto
A manifesto is a public declaration of principles and intentions, often political in nature. Manifestos relating to religious belief are generally referred to as creeds. Manifestos may also be life stance-related.-Etymology:...
, "Industrial Society and Its Future," be published in a major newspaper as a condition for ceasing his mail-bomb campaign, the New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
and the Washington Post both published the manifesto, hoping somebody would recognize the writing style of the author.
David recognized Ted's writing style, and the experienced criminal defense lawyer he found notified authorities. They hoped to negotiate terms more favorable to Ted through a voluntary surrender than would result from an eventual capture and trial on capital charges. On April 3, 1996, police arrested Ted Kaczynski in his rural shack in Lincoln, Montana
Lincoln, Montana
Lincoln is a census-designated place in Lewis and Clark County, Montana, United States. The population was 1,100 at the 2000 census. Its elevation is 4536 feet above sea level.Lincoln is part of the Helena Micropolitan Statistical Area....
. David had received assurance from the FBI that his identity as the informant would be kept secret, but his name was leaked to the media. In addition, he sought a guarantee from federal prosecutors that Ted would receive appropriate psychiatric evaluation and treatment. The Justice Department
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
's subsequent active pursuit of the death penalty for Ted and Attorney General
United States Attorney General
The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The attorney general is considered to be the chief lawyer of the U.S. government...
Janet Reno
Janet Reno
Janet Wood Reno is a former Attorney General of the United States . She was nominated by President Bill Clinton on February 11, 1993, and confirmed on March 11...
's initial refusal to accept a plea bargain
Plea bargain
A plea bargain is an agreement in a criminal case whereby the prosecutor offers the defendant the opportunity to plead guilty, usually to a lesser charge or to the original criminal charge with a recommendation of a lighter than the maximum sentence.A plea bargain allows criminal defendants to...
in exchange for a life sentence was seen as a betrayal by David and other Kaczynski family members. Such a plea bargain eventually resulted, and Ted was sentenced to serve life imprisonment with no possibility of parole. David has said in broadcast interviews since his brother's arrest, that notifying federal authorities of his brother's possible involvement in the Unabomber case was a painful decision. But he felt morally compelled to do it in order to save lives that might have been taken had the bombings continued. David received the $1 million reward
Bounty (reward)
A bounty is a payment or reward often offered by a group as an incentive for the accomplishment of a task by someone usually not associated with the group. Bounties are most commonly issued for the capture or retrieval of a person or object. They are typically in the form of money...
the FBI
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
had offered for the Unabomber's capture; he donated most of the money to the families of his brother's victims and used the rest to pay off his legal expenses.
David was assistant director of the Equinox shelter for runaway and homeless youth in Albany, where he counseled and advocated for troubled, neglected and abused youth in the Capital District. His experience of having his brother confront the death penalty later motivated David to become an anti-death penalty activist. In 2001, David Kaczynski was named executive director of New Yorkers Against the Death Penalty (as of 2008 New Yorkers for Alternatives to the Death Penalty). While the mission of NYADP originally focused only on ending the death penalty, under David's guidance, in 2008, it broadened its mission to address in a progressive manner the unmet needs of all those affected by violence, including victims and their families. He regularly makes media and public appearances.
Kaczynski is a graduate of Columbia College of Columbia University
Columbia College of Columbia University
Columbia College is the oldest undergraduate college at Columbia University, situated on the university's main campus in Morningside Heights in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It was founded in 1754 by the Church of England as King's College, receiving a Royal Charter from King George II...
. He is also a practicing Buddhist
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
and is a vegetarian
Vegetarianism
Vegetarianism encompasses the practice of following plant-based diets , with or without the inclusion of dairy products or eggs, and with the exclusion of meat...
.
In 2009 he published an essay about his relationship with his brother Ted, from childhood to adulthood, which appeared in a collection of essays.