Momentum Builds for Prop 34 to Replace CA Death Penalty with Life in Prison without Parole
September 25, 2012 | Link to Article
YES on 34 -- Safe California Campaign
September 25, 2012
Press Contact: Erin Mellon
Cell: 650-793-3696
For Immediate Release
Momentum Builds for Prop 34 to Replace CA Death Penalty with Life in Prison without Parole
Field Poll Shows Tight Race as Voters Learn of About Death Penalty Costs
SAN FRANCISCO – A growing number of California voters say they support Proposition 34, the SAFE California Act, to replace the death penalty with life in prison without parole, according to the latest results from a statewide survey by The Field Poll. Support for Prop. 34 was at 42% with 45% saying they would vote against the measure in November.
"We’re confident that once California voters fully understand the fiscal and social costs of our broken death penalty, the majority will support Prop. 34 to replace it with life in prison without possibility of parole,” said Jeanne Woodford, official proponent for the Yes on 34 – SAFE California Campaign and former warden at San Quentin State Prison. “Come November, voters will know that life in prison without possibility of parole is swift, certain and severe punishment that completely eliminates the risk of executing an innocent person. Prop. 34 also saves hundreds of millions of dollars, and it holds criminals accountable by requiring that they work and pay restitution into the victims’ compensation fund. Put simply, Prop. 34 is justice that works for everyone.”
The Field Poll results follow a steady shift over the last decade away from the death penalty and towards support for life in prison without parole.
In 2000, polling numbers were at 37% for a sentence of life in prison without parole to 44% for the death penalty. Last year, Field found that for the first time since the firm started asking the question, more California voters expressed a preference for life in prison without chance of parole: 48% supported life in prison without parole to 40% for the death penalty.
"This kind of shift in opinion for a bedrock issue for voters is significant," said David Binder of David Binder Research. "I expect numbers to build as more voters hear the specifics about Prop. 34, like that convicted murderers will no longer get special treatment and will have to work and pay restitution to victims and that California will save $130 million a year."
The YES on 34 -- SAFE California Campaign is supported by 1,318 organizations and community leaders including: The California Nurses Association, California Democratic Party, California League of Women Voters, California State Labor Federation, California Catholic Conference of Bishops, California State NAACP, law enforcement professionals, family members of murder victims, and more than 11,000 individuals.
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