California to commute sentences of all death row inmates

California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced that he will commute the sentences of all inmates on death row in the US state. He set out the decision in an open letter to residents, as quoted by the outlet Meduza.io. The move affects 548 people, making it a sweeping change to the state's capital punishment system.

In the letter, Newsom said state-sanctioned killing is incompatible with California's values. He described it as one of the hardest decisions of his career.

What the decision involves

According to the governor's office, the 548 inmates include 529 men and 19 women. However, where a convict has more than one prior conviction for serious crimes, commuting the sentence requires approval from the state Supreme Court. This applies to 382 inmates.

Newsom acknowledged in the letter that those sentenced to death caused unspeakable suffering to victims, their families, local communities and the state as a whole, and that the harm is felt for generations. He noted that many Californians believe people who commit violent crimes deserve to die. As governor, however, he concluded that the state has no moral right to take their lives.

Background

California's last execution was carried out on 17 January 2006. Newsom, a longtime opponent of the death penalty, imposed a moratorium on executions in 2019.

The decision comes as the governor prepares to leave an office he has held for eight years. He will step down in January 2027. He is named as a possible Democratic Party candidate for US president.