Voters rejected Proposition 62 in California voting to keep that death penalty in place.  The death penalty would have been replaced by a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The proposition would apply to prisoners who are on death row. The prisoners would also have to work while in prison. 20% to 60% of the money earned would be given to the victims families.

Many agree that the system does not work due to the over 900 people sent to death row since 1978 but only 13 have been executed in California. “Because of all the problems with the death penalty, not a single person has been executed here in the last 10 years.” Nonetheless, Californians continue to pay for it in many ways,” says one advocate of 62. According to an analysis, proposition 62 could have saved California annually $150 million in a net reduction for the state and local government.

Another argument that was made is convicted killers would not be executed for their crimes. Numerous taxpayers are furious with this proposition with many complaining they are costing money to keep them alive with the benefits of free healthcare. A survey has been conducted with inmates in California on death row. The survey concluded that many inmates opposed proposition 62.  “Fundamentally, we believe that life without parole is just another method of execution,” states Kenneth Hartman who served 37 of his life without parole sentence in California State Prison.