Oregon governor calls death penalty 'immoral,' commutes sentences for all 17 inmates on death row

[sl8]

https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/13/us/oregon-death-penalty-governor-commutations/index.html

Oregon governor calls death penalty ‘immoral,’ commutes sentences for all 17 inmates on death row

By Paradise Afshar and Steve Almasy, CNN
Published 8:58 PM EST, Tue December 13, 2022

CNN
—
Outgoing Oregon Gov. Kate Brown is commuting the sentences of all 17 people on death row to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, according to a news release Tuesday from her office.

“Since taking office in 2015, I have continued Oregon’s moratorium on executions because the death penalty is both dysfunctional and immoral. Today I am commuting Oregon’s death row so that we will no longer have anyone serving a sentence of death and facing execution in this state,” Brown, a Democrat, said.

Brown also talked about the long wait for victims and their families.

“I also recognize the pain and uncertainty victims experience as they wait for decades while individuals sit on death row – especially in states with moratoriums on executions – without resolution,” she said. “My hope is that this commutation will bring us a significant step closer to finality in these cases.”

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[jimfields33]

1. I'm wondering about a person on death row who wants to continue

Do they at least get the option? if you’re 45 years old on death row and suddenly now have life in prison, I’m sure some would much rather have death to be honest with you. I would hope they get the choice themselves.