Governor Gavin Newsom recently shared his personal belief that capital punishment is unjust and "inconsistent with our bedrock values." Then, he imposed a moratorium on the death penalty in California, promising that no one will be executed while he is in office.
But, do the residents of California actually agree with him?
According to a new state poll conducted by the Public Police Institute of California, 62% of Californians favor a 'life in prison' penalty, as compared to a death sentence in cases of first-degree murder. The poll also noted a steady decline in support of the state's death penalty since 2000.
“This is a case where public opinion continues to shift, and shift support away from the death penalty,” said Mark Baldassare, the institute’s president and chief executive.
Michael Rushford, a member of the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation and a pro-death penalty advocate, said the poll results are usually misleading...
“They should have asked the right question: What should the penalty be for the worst of the worst murderers … not what it should be if they kill someone in a bar fight,” he said.
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Read the full report on the Los Angeles Times.