The Death Penalty Is Still California Law. Good Luck Enforcing It. Last Thursday, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced he will commute every current California death sentence, all 548 of them, including six people convicted in Shasta County, to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He was quick to add, "Nobody is walking free." The convictions stay on the books. And the death penalty is still California law. California Governor Gavin Newsom - Photo Credit https://commons.w