Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposal to replace California’s 548 death sentences with life without parole has divided local officials and would leave capital punishment available in future cases.
Newsom announced the plan in an open letter Thursday, Nov. 5, saying he would use his clemency power to change every current death sentence. The proposed terms would keep those people imprisoned for life, with no chance of parole; the clemency would not undo convictions or existing restitution obligations.
Capital punishment would remain a sentencing option, and Newsom said prosecutors, juries and courts would continue to determine its use in later cases.
A separate court step applies to 382 people with more than one felony conviction. Newsom’s filing seeks California Supreme Court recommendations for those cases, and at least four justices must concur under the state constitution. The proposal has not changed any sentence yet. An earlier report on the court recommendation process outlined those requirements. The state has not announced when the court will consider the cases or when any commutation could take effect.
CBS News reported that Los Angeles County Public Defender Ricardo García supported the plan, citing inequities in capital punishment. “Clemency is not leniency,” García said.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer criticized the proposal, arguing that it disregards jury decisions and compounds the grief of victims’ families, CBS News reported. He said prosecutors in his office would still pursue the death penalty when they consider it justified.
CBS News also reported that California voters rejected repeal measures in 2012 and 2016, then approved Proposition 66 in 2016 to speed up capital cases. The outlet said the state’s last execution was in 2006 and Newsom halted executions in 2019.