VENTURA, California –District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that he is “deeply disappointed by Governor Newsom’s decision to impose a moratorium on imposition of the death penalty in California. In doing so, the Governor is substituting his opinion in place of literally thousands of jurors who, after hearing the facts of these cases, decided that death was the only truly just punishment for the horrific crimes committed by these defendants.”
District Attorney Greg Totten stated, “The Governor’s actions disregard the will of Californians, who voted three times in the last six years to retain and implement the death penalty.” Propositions 34 and 62 both sought to repeal the death penalty and were defeated in 2012 and 2016. Proposition 66 passed in 2016, which sought to provide additional resources to streamline the overly lengthy appeals process.
Lastly, the Governor’s moratorium, implemented without consultations with elected District Attorneys across the state, deprives the deceased victims and their families of justice, in favor of those who have murdered children, police officers, and other innocent victims.
The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office is the public prosecutor for the county’s 850,000 residents. The office employs approximately 280 employees including attorneys, investigators, victim advocates, and other professional support staff who strive to seek justice, ensure public safety, and protect the rights of crime victims.
Follow the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office on Twitter @VenturaDAOffice
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