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

Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse in Downtown Long Beach where inmates meet for their hearing then possibly get sent to San Quentin State Prison

Drew Hannon, Athletics Editor

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