California Governor Commutes Death Sentences for All Death Row Inmates
Governor Gavin Newsom has commuted the death sentences of all 548 inmates on California's death row, changing their sentences to life without the possibility of parole.
San Francisco Oakland San Jose, CA, November 5, 2026 —
Governor Gavin Newsom has commuted the death sentences of all 548 inmates currently on California’s death row. The action, announced today, changes their sentences to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
This directive impacts the entire population of individuals awaiting execution in the state’s correctional facilities. The decision means that none of these inmates will face execution, with their sentences now permanently set to life in prison.
Details regarding the specific legal processes or the exact timing of the announcement were not immediately available. The governor’s office issued the commutation, a formal act that alters or cancels a criminal sentence. The inmates affected by this commutation will remain incarcerated under the new life-without-parole status.
California has one of the largest death row populations in the United States, but executions have been infrequent in recent decades. Governor Newsom previously imposed a moratorium on executions in 2019, a policy that remains in effect. This latest action formally converts the sentences of all individuals on death row.
The total number of inmates affected by this commutation is 548. The new sentence for each of these individuals will be life without the possibility of parole, signifying that they will spend the remainder of their lives in prison and will not be eligible for release.
Story summarized from the original created by Kayla.Galloway@fox.com (Kayla Galloway) on www.ktvu.com, see more information here.
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