Newsom Commutes Death Sentences: 548 Prisoners Move to Life Without Parole

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Thursday that he is commuting the death sentences of 548 prisoners, converting them to life in prison without the possibility of parole. This action applies to the state’s entire current death row population, which Newsom’s office states consists of 529 men and 19 women.

The move takes effect as Newsom prepares to leave office after eight years and considers a presidential run. The Democrat placed a moratorium on executions in 2019, a pause that has remained in place since the state last carried out an execution in 2006.

Newsom stated in a public letter that he takes this action because he believes state-sanctioned killing is incompatible with California’s values. He added that the practice undermines the foundations of the legal system and diminishes each person. The governor noted that he realized the limits of what government can justly accomplish before making the decision.

The state constitution requires the California Supreme Court to approve clemency for anyone convicted of a felony more than once. Because of this rule, the court must review 382 of the 548 commutations, which represents roughly 70 percent of the total group, according to the governor’s office.

The decision comes despite previous voter support for capital punishment. Californians voted to uphold the death penalty in 2012 and 2016. The state currently holds the largest death row in the Western Hemisphere, which includes notorious figures such as Richard Allen Davis, who killed Polly Klaas in 1993, and Randy Kraft, who murdered 16 people in the 1970s and 1980s.

Jess Nichol, the sister of Polly Klaas, said her views have evolved from believing her brother’s killer deserved death. She stated that the system tells survivors that execution matters to healing, but that it is actually a distraction from what they need.

Newsom acknowledged the decision as one of the most difficult of his career due to the painful memories it may surface for victims’ families. He wrote that as governor, he alone bears responsibility for the decision and its impact, just as he would for each execution.

Critics from victims’ groups and prosecutors have condemned the action. Patricia Wenskunas, founder of the nonprofit Crime Survivors, called the decision offensive and outrageous, saying her heart hurts for every victim and family member. Steve Herr, whose son Sam was murdered in 2010, described the governor as an outright coward who is inflicting cruelty.

The California District Attorneys Association expressed grave concerns in a letter sent last month, warning that sweeping action would inflict additional anguish. President Jeannine M. Pacioni said erasing judgments with the stroke of a pen without considering individual facts would be a disservice to justice. San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow called the move a sickening abuse of power, noting that families of victims murdered in 1999 and 1995 have waited decades for the state to keep its word.

Supporters of the death penalty in Orange County also reacted strongly. District Attorney Todd Spitzer criticized the decision as mercy for the wolves while inflicting the ultimate act of cruelty on the sheep. In contrast, the American Civil Liberties Union applauded the announcement. Executive Director Anthony Romero said the commutations end a racist, error-prone, and inhumane punishment that has burdened California for too long.

Xavier Becerra, the Democrat who will take over from Newsom in January, has said he will extend the state’s moratorium on the death penalty. Other state leaders have taken similar actions, including Oregon Governor Kate Brown in 2022 and Colorado Governor Jared Polis in 2020. President Joe Biden granted clemency to 37 of 40 federal death row prisoners in 2024.