California advocates urge Governor Newsom to commute life sentences

A coalition of advocacy groups, including Drop Life Without Parole and the California Coalition for Women Prisoners, is calling on Governor Gavin Newsom to commute the sentences of more than 5,000 individuals serving life without parole in California before his term ends.

During a news conference and rally at the State Capitol, advocates described life without parole as “death by incarceration” or the “other death penalty.” The groups argue that those serving these sentences have demonstrated rehabilitation and paved the way for broader sentencing reforms.

Governor Newsom, who previously placed a moratorium on executions and dismantled lethal injection equipment at San Quentin State Prison, is currently weighing whether to commute California’s remaining death sentences. There are currently 563 people on death row in the state, and California has not carried out an execution since 2006.