Last mentioned: Feb 21, 2026
Remodel Showcase
Newsom tours the completed remodel of the former death chamber and surrounding rehabilitative spaces.
San Quentin Transformation
Newsom announces plans to transform San Quentin into a world-class rehabilitation facility.
Moratorium Declared
Governor Newsom signs an executive order instituting a moratorium on the death penalty in California.
Last Execution
Clarence Ray Allen is the last person executed at San Quentin before legal challenges halt the practice.
Governor Gavin Newsom has unveiled the physical transformation of San Quentin’s former execution chamber into a rehabilitation center, marking a definitive shift in California's penal policy. The move formalizes the 'California Model,' a regulatory pivot toward Scandinavian-style restorative justice and away from punitive incarceration.