Newsom plans to commute all 548 California death sentences
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced on 5 November that he plans to replace all 548 death sentences in the state with life imprisonment without parole.
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced on 5 November that he plans to replace all 548 death sentences in the state with life imprisonment without parole.
The governor’s office confirmed the plan in a letter to Californians. The action does not abolish the death penalty in state law. AP reports that commutations for prisoners with multiple felony convictions require California Supreme Court approval.
Newsom imposed a moratorium on executions in 2019. The announcement concerns changing sentences, not releasing prisoners.
Before the announcement, press reports put the number of people on California's death row at between about 560 and 565, depending on the count, and said the governor was weighing a mass commutation. Advocates and human rights groups have urged him to act, while prosecutors and victims' families have objected, arguing that converting the sentences would add to the pain of those who lost relatives.
The move would be final and, for prisoners with a single felony conviction, at the governor's sole discretion, according to coverage by CalMatters and Capitol Weekly.