California governor commutes sentences of more than 500 people on death row

Al Jazeera · Brian Osgood · 2026-11-06 01:39 UTC

Gavin Newsom cites state values and flaws in the legal system as he grants largest mass clemency in US history.

Gavin Newsom cites concerns over morality, high costs, human error as he grants largest mass clemency in US history.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced that he will commute the sentences of all 548 people on death row in the state, the largest mass clemency in United States history.

The announcement on Thursday effectively clears out California’s death row, although the state has not executed a prisoner for 20 years. Those on death row will instead serve life sentences without the possibility of parole.

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