California Gov. Gavin Newsom commuted all state death sentences for 548 death row prisoners, explaining in an open letter to Californians that he firmly believes “state-sanctioned killing is incompatible” with state values.
In the letter announcing the move on Thursday, November 5, Newsom wrote that he’s using his authority as governor to commute the death sentences to life without the possibility of parole.
“Many Californians feel that those who commit brutal crimes deserve to die. But as Governor, I have concluded the state cannot morally kill them,” the letter read. “I do, however, pray that this action will finally separate the memories of the victims of these crimes from the fate of those who harmed them.”
“We can now let these offenders die in obscurity while we forever remember and honor their victims,” Newsom added.
While the governor has the authority to commute sentences for prisoners convicted of a single felony, California Supreme Court approval is needed for commutations of death row inmates convicted of multiple felonies, according to the governor’s office.
Of those commuted by Newsom, the state supreme court needs to approve clemency for 382 people convicted of more than one felony, per the Associated Press, which cited numbers from Newsom’s office.
“I acknowledge that my decision to exercise my constitutional clemency authority requires the Justices to participate in a weighty decision they did not choose to take up and with which they may personally disagree,” Newsom’s letter stated. “I profoundly appreciate the integrity and expertise the Court brings to the task of clemency review.”
Newsom’s decision is considered the “largest mass clemency” in the U.S., according to the Death Penalty Information Center.
It comes after Newsom issued a moratorium on executions after becoming California’s governor in March 2019. There hasn’t been a death row execution in the state since 2006.
“The decision is among the most difficult in my career, not because I doubt its necessity for our state but because I know its announcement may surface excruciating memories for victims’ families,” Newsom’s letter stated. “Today I am acting on my long and deeply held conviction that individually and collectively we are stronger as a society when we reject state-sanctioned killing.”
Newsom issued the commutations ahead of a potential presidential run, according to the Associated Press.
Infamous California death row inmates include Richard Allen Davis, who was convicted in the 1993 kidnapping and killing of 12-year-old Polly Klaas, the outlet reported.
In a Thursday statement shared in a news release issued by the U.S. Campaign to End the Death Penalty, Klaas’ sister, Jess Nichol, said, “I won’t pretend I’ve always opposed the death penalty. I used to think the man who killed my sister deserved execution.”
“But over time I’ve realized that whether he’s executed has absolutely nothing to do with my recovery or with real public safety,” Nichol added. “The system tells survivors that execution matters to our healing. It doesn’t. It’s a distraction from what we actually need.”
Newsom wrote in his letter that he acknowledges his clemency decision “will anger and hurt some Californians.”
