Politics & Government

Life or Death: Should Californians Ban Capital Punishment?

Two state public safety committees will hold an informational hearing on Proposition 34 Tuesday, Sept. 27.

The California Senate Committee on Public Safety and the Assembly Committee of Public Safety will hold an informational hearing on Proposition 34 on Tuesday.

Prop. 34 is the November election ballot measure to abolish the death penalty in California. If passed, it would require replacing the ultimate court punishment with life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

After long using the practice, California suspended its application of capital punishment in 1972. It was reinstated in 1977. Since then, 13 people have been executed by the state.

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The passage of Prop. 34 would make it so all California inmates currently on death row would retroactively receive life without parole.

Tuesday’s hearing will include an overview and financial impact breakdown of the initiative by the Legislative Analyst’s Office. It will also involve two panel discussions.

Find out what's happening in Berkeleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The first panel will be made up of Prop. 34 supporters, which include former San Quentin Warden Jeanne Woodford and former Los Angeles County District Attorney Gil Garcetti. The second panel will be made up of the initiative’s opponents, including Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones and San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.

The hearing with be held on Tuesday, Sept. 18 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon in 4203 of the State Capitol. It will open to the public for public comment at 11:30 a.m.

Should Californians ban the death penalty? Share your thoughts on the issue in comments.


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