Does California have the death penalty?
Not used in practice
The death penalty remains in law, but executions are suspended (by Governor and court order moratorium).
California is classified “Not used in practice” for the death penalty, as are 10 of the other 49 states and the District of Columbia. For the United States as a whole, the classification is “Retained / in use”.
Source
- Note
- On March 13, 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom set a moratorium. There has also been a court ordered moratorium on executions in effect since December 15, 2006.
- Last checked
- 17 September 2026
- How it was classified
- Read from the source’s state-by-state coverage; the topic is published only once hand-verified reference states match it.
Across the United States
- Retained / in use 16 states.
- Not used in practice 11 states, including California.
- Fully abolished 23 states and the District of Columbia.
Nearby states
- Nevada
- Not used in practice The death penalty remains in law, but executions are suspended (de facto moratorium).
- Arizona
- Retained / in use The death penalty is legal and executions are not suspended.
- Utah
- Retained / in use The death penalty is legal and executions are not suspended.
- Oregon
- Not used in practice The death penalty remains in law, but executions are suspended (by Governor moratorium).
- Idaho
- Not used in practice The death penalty remains in law, but executions are suspended (de facto moratorium).
- Washington
- Fully abolished Washington abolished the death penalty in 2018.
Other laws in California
- Abortion
- Legal on request
- Euthanasia
- Assisted dying only
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Marriage legal
- Sex Work
- Illegal
- Gun Laws
- Highly restrictive / banned
- Cannabis
- Legal
The death penalty in the United States → · Which countries have the death penalty? →
A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.