The Execution of Death Row in CA
Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse in Downtown Long Beach where inmates meet for their hearing then possibly get sent to San Quentin State Prison
March 1, 2022
Is this the end of California’s Death Row? California Governor Gavin Newsom is looking to get rid of California’s Death Row. Is this something that is good for the state?
I believe that it will be better for the state of California not to have death row.
“Executing someone is actually more expensive than sentencing someone to life in prison,” says Braswell. This means that with no death row, it would be cheaper for the state to put a dangerous criminal behind bars.
I feel like spending the rest of your life in prison is a punishment that is more harsh, and serves as a more appropriate punishment because
California’s death row is located at San Quentin State Prison in San Quentin California, 15 miles north from San Francisco. On death row, inmates spend about two decades in separate cells away from the main prison population before being executed by lethal injection. There are currently around 700 inmates on California’s death row however, there hasn’t been an execution in the state of California since 2006.
There are some states that don’t have the death penalty like Alaska, Hawaii, New Mexico, and just recently Colorado, have all gotten rid of the punishment while they have been part of the nation.Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse in Downtown Long Beach where inmates meet for their hearing and then possibly get sent to San Quentin State Prison.
“In the 1970s there was a Supreme Court Case that found that the death penalty was a cruel punishment but later on, it was found to be a fair punishment,” says Millikan AP US History teacher Christina Braswell.
In an AP News Article California Governor Gavin Newsom says, “The goal is to turn the section at San Quentin State into a positive, healing environment.”
“I agree with Newsom because I think it’s a good idea and a better solution to use San Quentin State Prison for healing,” says COMPASS junior Michael McCray.
With California getting rid of their death row, it seems like this will be a huge new change for the state. In a Mercury News Article it says, Gavin Newsom is going to transfer all death row inmates to different prisons in California and they will blend in with the regular prisoners of California.
Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse in Downtown Long Beach where inmates meet for their hearing and then possibly get sent to San Quentin State Prison
Mia Buck • Mar 7, 2022 at 12:59 pm
In issue 5/2022, (published march 1st, 2022) Drew Hannon wrote the article titled “The Execution of Death Row in CA”. This article covered governor Gavin Newsom’s idea to get rid of death sentences in California. I agree with the writer’s perspective and think that their stance was very well worded. Though death seems like one of the harshest punishments that can be given, living a life in prison away from the simple joys of a normal life, is also well deserved to those who have committed some of the worst crimes. Personally, one of my biggest issues with the death penalty is the way it gives our government the opportunity to play god and take someones life just because in their eyes, that is justice being served. While many of the people on death row are there because they killed other people, that should not be a reason for the government to take their life in return. In my opinion there is much more reform needed in prisons but this seems to be a step in the right direction for California. I am glad that this subject was covered in the Corydon since it is important that as future voters we see the real world impact that our elected governors or officials have on society.
Sincerely,
Mia Buck, Grade 11
Genevieve Algie • Mar 9, 2022 at 12:54 pm
I agree prisons do need to do more to reform people but I don’t think the death penalty is a harsh punishment for a person who murderd some one. like if they didn’t kill some in self deffence I don’t think that murderers desirve a second chance. they person they killed didn’t get a second chance so why should the person that murderd them get one?
Genevieve Algie, Grade 9
Niya Patterson • Mar 4, 2022 at 12:11 pm
March 4th, 2022
Dear Corydon editor
In issue 5/2022 ( published March 1st, 2022), Drew Hannon wrote an article titled “ The
Execution of Death Row in CA”. This article mentions the debate on whether or not the Death
penalty should keep on going on in California. My knowledge of the death penalty was that it
was a common occurrence and that it wasn’t only for people who acted out truly hateful and
brutal crimes. If this does become an act what will other prisoners think with new death row
prison mates? What if the death row prisoners are not mentally stable and able to adapt in a
positive way to the change? If we ever have a situation in which we need the death row penalty
will there be an alternative? Will this bring up the crime rates, because people think they now
have a chance to get away with crimes? If California deletes the Death Sentence will many
other states with high crime rates do the same?cI think that the Death penalty should be only
pulled out in severe situations but overall should vanish over time. Thank you for shedding light
and addressing such a big change in our environment.
Sincerely,
Niya Patterson, Grade 11
Mason Calimquim • Mar 4, 2022 at 10:39 am
The article talks about the morality and effectiveness of the death penalty. Before reading the article, I did not know that there hasn’t been an execution in the state since 2006. A few questions: Are there other state prisons that have a death row besides San Quentin? What would it take to get rid of the death penalty AND turn current prisons into a “healing environment”? How do crime rates and other statistics from states with the death penalty compare to states without it? Is lethal injection the only way they kill the inmates? What are the psychological differences between those on death row and regular prisoners and how hard would it be to What has Gavin Newsom said on the topic? What is the public opinion on death row? Does death row have any benefits? Why do you think life in prison is a better punishment? What consequences could come from removing the death row? I suggest reading over and being a little more specific and elaborating on your points more. Thank you for writing about this pretty significant topic, and I love the creative article title.
Sincerely,
Mason Calimquim