California governor commutes all 548 death sentences
· Politics · United States
California Governor Gavin Newsom said on Thursday he would commute all 548 death sentences in the state to life in prison without parole, saying capital punishment is "incompatible" with California's values. The move marks a major step away from the death penalty as Newsom prepares to leave office after eight years. California has historically had the largest population of people on death row in the US. Critics have described the death penalty as an inhumane punishment. The decision affects more than 500 prisoners and does not release them; their sentences become life without the possibility of parole.
Why it matters：It is the largest single act of its kind in the US and adds momentum to a broader debate over capital punishment in American politics.
Key points
- All 548 death sentences become life without parole.
- Newsom is in his final months in office after eight years.
- California has long had the largest death row population in the US.