Summary
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he will commute the death sentences of all 548 people currently on the state’s death row to life in prison without parole. The move does not repeal the death penalty or stop prosecutors from seeking it in future cases, and some commutations require review by the California Supreme Court.Key Facts
- Newsom announced the plan in an open letter and said he would use his constitutional clemency authority.
- The commutations would change 548 death sentences to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
- California’s death penalty would remain in place, and prosecutors could still seek death sentences in future cases.
- California voters rejected proposals to abolish the death penalty in 2012 and 2016.
- Voters narrowly approved Proposition 66 in 2016, which sought to speed up death penalty cases.
- Newsom imposed a moratorium on executions in 2019, shortly after taking office.
- California last carried out an execution in 2006.
- The state constitution requires California Supreme Court approval for clemency for people convicted of more than one felony.
