A proposed change to California’s capital punishment system would replace the sentences of 548 people on death row with life without parole, but 382 people still require a court recommendation before their sentences can change.
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the proposal Nov. 5. His filing says the recommendation requirement applies to people with more than one felony conviction. At least four California Supreme Court justices must concur in a recommendation for those commutations. The announcement has not changed any sentence; the required legal steps remain.
The state counted 529 men and 19 women under sentence of death on Nov. 5. Earlier EconoTimes coverage of the proposal and court review outlined the process.
Approval would change the punishment while keeping recipients in prison and ineligible for parole. Their convictions and restitution orders would remain in force. The proposal would not remove the death penalty as an option in future cases.
Newsom cited what he described as California’s inability to administer capital punishment fairly. In his open letter, he wrote that “state-sanctioned killing is incompatible with California’s values.”
Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, praised the plan and described the punishment as “racist, error-prone and inhumane.” Dan Dow, San Luis Obispo County district attorney, called the move “a sickening abuse of power.” Dow urged the state Supreme Court to review individual cases and hear from victims’ families before making recommendations.
California’s last execution took place Jan. 17, 2006. Newsom halted executions through a 2019 moratorium, while existing death sentences remained in force. Victim advocates are working to contact affected victims, survivors and next of kin. The governor’s clemency page says registered victims will be notified when commutations take effect. The state has not announced when the court will consider the recommendations or when any commutations might take effect.
