Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday that he is commuting the death sentences of all 561 inmates currently on California's death row, effectively changing their sentences to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Newsom stated in a letter to Californians that while he understands the anger of victims' families, the state "cannot morally kill them."
"We can now let these offenders die in obscurity while we forever remember and honor their victims," Newsom wrote.
California has not carried out an execution since 2006, despite having the largest death row population in the United States. Newsom previously imposed a moratorium on executions through an executive order in 2019.