NewsSFGate Bay Area NewsNovember 8, 2026San Francisco County
California Governor Gavin Newsom Commutes State Death Sentences to Life Imprisonment
Photo: SFGate Bay Area News
Governor Gavin Newsom used his constitutional authority to commute the death sentences of over 500 death row prisoners in California to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Newsom stated that state-sanctioned killing is incompatible with the state's values and noted that California has maintained a formal moratorium on executions since 2019. The decision affects notorious offenders who have spent decades on death row, altering their legal punishment permanently.
Read the full story at SFGate Bay Area NewsWhy It Matters
Over 500 convicted individuals on California's death row will serve life sentences without parole instead of facing execution, changing the finality of their legal status and impacting victims' families.
Key Facts
- Governor Gavin Newsom used his constitutional authority to commute the death sentences of over 500 death row prisoners in California.
- The affected prisoners will instead serve life in prison without the possibility of parole.
- California has not executed a death row prisoner since 2006.
- Governor Newsom issued a formal moratorium on the death penalty when he took office in 2019.
- California held the largest death row in the Western Hemisphere with over 500 condemned men and women.
- Celeste Carrington, one of the state's few condemned women, had her death sentence commuted to life without parole at age 64.
- David Carpenter, known as the Trailside Killer, had his death sentence commuted at age 96.
- Richard Allen Davis, convicted in the 1993 kidnapping and murder of Polly Klaas, had his sentence commuted at age 72.
- Randy Kraft, known as the Scorecard Killer, had his sentence commuted at age 81.
- Joseph Naso had his death sentence commuted at age 92.
- Charles Ng, convicted of 11 murders from the Wilseyville mass grave case, had his sentence commuted at age 65.
- Cary Stayner, convicted of multiple murders in Yosemite, is among the inmates affected.
Who's Mentioned
PersonLeonard Lake“Associated with Charles Ng in serial killings”locationChowchilla“City housing the Central California Women’s Facility”locationPalo Alto“Location of a real estate office crime scene”PersonRichard Allen Davis“Convicted in the kidnapping and murder of Polly Klaas”PersonMarc Klaas“Father of Polly Klaas who opposed the governor's stance”locationPhiladelphia“Hometown of Celeste Carrington”PersonDavid Carpenter“Known as the Trailside Killer, death row inmate”locationUkiah“Location of the police station where Steven Stayner sought help”locationBay Area“Region where multiple crimes and arrests took place”locationStockton“Location near the California Health Care Facility”locationSan Carlos“Location of a shoe factory crime scene”locationMarin“County where Carpenter targeted hikers”PersonCeleste Carrington“Condemned woman whose death sentence was commuted”locationSan Diego“Location of the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility”locationPetaluma“Home of Polly Klaas during her kidnapping”locationMerced“Hometown where Steven Stayner was kidnapped”PersonSteven Stayner“Brother of Cary Stayner, kidnap survivor”locationLong Beach“Birthplace of Randy Kraft”PersonKenneth Parnell“Kidnapper of Steven Stayner”PersonPolly Klaas“Victim of kidnapping and murder”PersonCharles Ng“Death row inmate convicted of 11 murders”locationNew York“Birthplace of Joseph Naso”locationSanta Cruz“County where Carpenter targeted hikers”locationSouthern California“Region where Carrington attended community college”PersonJoseph Naso“Death row inmate convicted of multiple murders”PersonCary Stayner“Inmate with a notable background and convicted killer”PersonGavin Newsom“California governor who issued the commutation decision”locationSan Francisco“Birthplace of David Carpenter”PersonRandy Kraft“Known as the Scorecard Killer, death row inmate”locationHong Kong“Birthplace of Charles Ng”