California moves to end death sentences, with 548 prisoners expected to avoid execution

California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced that he intends to commute the sentences of 548 people on death row in the state.

Under the decision, their death sentences will be converted to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The prisoners will not be executed but will remain in prison for the rest of their lives.

The announcement was made in a three-page letter to Californians as Newsom approaches the end of his second and final term as governor.

California has the largest number of death row prisoners in the Western Hemisphere. The measure is therefore considered one of the largest commutations in the state’s history.

Of the 548 prisoners, 529 are men and 19 are women.

The decision will not take effect immediately for all the prisoners. In about 382 cases, representing approximately 70% of the total, approval from the California Supreme Court is required because those prisoners also have other criminal convictions. For the remaining prisoners, the governor can carry out the commutations directly.

Newsom has opposed the death penalty for years, describing it as incompatible with societal values and the principles of justice.

Shortly after taking office in 2019, the governor imposed a moratorium on executions, suspending the use of capital punishment during his term.

California has not executed anyone since January 2006. The death penalty system, meanwhile, has faced repeated criticism over its high costs, lengthy legal proceedings and racial disparities.