On This Day In History…February 18th, 1972

Today, there are more than seven hundred and thirty inmates on death row in the United States, but due to a series of court decisions, legal challenges and changes in methodology, there have been no executions in California since 2006.

On February 28th, 1972 the death penalty was found by the Supreme Court of California to constitute a ‘cruel and unusual punishment.’ One hundred and seven condemned inmates were removed from death row, and given automatic life sentences.

However, in November 1978 that finding was repealed and the death penalty reaffirmed.

As of March 2019, there are 737 inmates on death row in California. Seventy-nine condemned inmates have died of natural causes since 1978, when the state reinstated capital punishment after a series of legal challenges. An additional 26 inmates died by suicide.

California has executed 13 inmates since re-instatement. Two of California’s inmates were executed in other states.