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Victims’ families lash out at Gavin Newsom after mass commutation of ‘monsters’ on death row in California
NBC News • • nation
Key Points:
- California Governor Gavin Newsom's decision to commute the death sentences of over 500 inmates has sparked outrage among families of murder victims, who feel the move disregards their pain and the will of voters.
- Faye Jenkins, whose daughter and son-in-law were brutally murdered in 2008, criticized Newsom for imposing his personal beliefs and undermining the electorate's support for the death penalty.
- Steve Herr, father of a murder victim, expressed frustration that the commutations have prolonged his family's trauma, as the convicted killer remains alive on death row.
- Legal experts note that while Newsom needs California Supreme Court approval to commute many sentences, life without parole (LWOP) is unlikely to lead to inmate releases, despite concerns raised by some prosecutors.
- Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer warned that LWOP sentences may not guarantee public safety, citing cases of parole despite such sentences, though some legal scholars dispute the likelihood of mass releases.
