Outgoing Oregon Gov Commutes All Death Sentences

The Oregonian reports:

Gov. Kate Brown announced Tuesday that she would commute the sentences of all 17 individuals on Oregon’s death row to life in prison without the possibility of parole, the latest in her end-of-term string of clemency decisions.

“I have long believed that justice is not advanced by taking a life, and the state should not be in the business of executing people — even if a terrible crime placed them in prison,” Brown said. “This is a value that many Oregonians share.”

The governor also directed the Department of Corrections to dismantle the state’s death chamber. Oregon has not executed anyone on death row for a quarter century and Brown continued the moratorium that former Gov. John Kitzhaber put in place in 2011.

Read the full article. Governor-elect Tina Kotek also opposes the death penalty.

Gov. Kate Brown commutes sentences of all 17 people on Oregon’s death row https://t.co/jFOQ3gnJ82

— The Oregonian (@Oregonian) December 14, 2022