California Governor Newsom commutes all death row sentences to life imprisonment
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Governor Gavin Newsom used his clemency authority to convert the death sentences of 548 inmates to life without parole, citing moral and practical concerns.
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the death sentences of all 548 inmates on the state's death row have been commuted to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. In a letter to the inmates, Newsom said the move reflects his belief that state-sanctioned killing conflicts with California's values and legal principles.
"We can now let these offenders die in obscurity while we forever remember and honour the victims," Newsom wrote.
The action is largely symbolic, as California has not carried out an execution since 2006, and only 13 executions have occurred since the death penalty was reinstated in 1978. Experts note that eliminating death-penalty cases could reduce state court costs by millions of dollars each year.
Newsom, who is in his final months in office, described the decision as a "difficult but righteous action" and acknowledged that it would upset some residents. He emphasized that life without parole is the most severe punishment the state can impose lawfully.
The governor's move follows his earlier 2019 halt to the death penalty and comes as discussions about his potential candidacy for the 2028 presidential election continue. Fellow Democrat Xavier Becerra is expected to assume the governorship after the upcoming midterm elections.
At the federal level, President Donald Trump, a long-time advocate of capital punishment, has reiterated his support for the death penalty, describing it as an essential tool for deterrence and punishment.