Voters From Across Political Spectrum Support Converting All Current Death Row Sentences to Save California $1 Billion Over Five Years

A recent statewide survey of 800 high propensity voters conducted by David Binder Research1 showed a strong
63% support for converting all current death row sentences to life imprisonment without any possibility of parole
in order to save the state $1 billion dollars in five years,2 where the money saved would be required to pay for
public education and law enforcement. Notably, this idea to convert all of the death row sentences to save the
state a billion dollars over five years receives support from all political parties and from across all regions of the
state. This idea appears to be the type of solution voters are looking for politicians to develop, but this idea in
particular is one that political figures have so far overlooked. 
 
California’s voters face unappealing choices to close the state’s remaining $13 billion budget deficit – accept
further cuts in addition to the $12 billion already cut, extend current tax rates, or some combination of the two.
Therefore, when presented with the option to save the state $1 billion in five years, without releasing a single
prisoner, voters are strongly supportive of this option.  
 
Overall, 63% of these high propensity voters support the proposed option, while only 28% are opposed, with 9%
saying they’re unsure:

California needs to close $13 billion from the state budget. One idea being discussed is for
Governor Brown to convert the sentences of all 712 people on death row to a sentence of life
imprisonment without any possibility of parole, and require these inmates to work and pay
restitution to victim families. This would save the state $1 billion in five years, without releasing a
single prisoner, and the money saved would be required to be used only for public education and
law enforcement. Do you support or oppose this idea?  
 
STRONGLY SUPPORT
40
→63%
SOMEWHAT SUPPORT
23
SOMEWHAT OPPOSE
9
→28%
STRONGLY OPPOSE
19
UNSURE / DON’T KNOW
9
 
Voters from across the political spectrum support this idea, with support from Independent voters the strongest,
with 70% supportive. 64% of Democrats support the idea and 58% of Republicans support the idea. It is relatively
infrequent where majorities of both Democrats and Republicans support an idea to help close the budget deficit.
 
Further, voters from all areas of California support the idea. Voters in the Bay Area (70% support) and Inland
Empire (66%) are the most supportive, followed by voters in Los Angeles (62%), San Diego (62%), and Sacramento
(54%). 61% of voters outside the major media markets support the idea. 

1 David Binder Research surveyed high propensity voters – likely special election or primary election voters – during the week of April 17th, 2011.
Margin of error is ±3.5%. 
2 See San Jose Mercury News Editorial, Brown Should Convert Death Sentences to Life Without Parole February 20, 2011.