 costs so much more to house death row prisoners, conduct death penalty trials and for the lengthy appeals that follow convictions.

Jeanne Woodford, former chief of the state prison system and San Quentin warden, is leading the campaign, calling the death penalty no more than a “symbolic gesture.”

“(This) will put an end to its intolerable risk and exorbitant cost,” she said at a San Francisco news conference, joined by former Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge LaDoris Cordell, who is also heading the campaign.

California will jump into the death penalty debate at a time when capital punishment is in flux across the country. States such as Illinois, New Jersey and New Mexico have scrapped the death penalty in recent years, and many others have put executions on hold as a result of legal uncertainty over lethal injection or calls to study the issue. Sixteen states no longer carry out the death penalty.

The most recent Field Poll on the topic last year found 68 percent of California voters support the death penalty. But the same poll also found more of the state’s voters prefer murderers serve life in prison without the possibility of parole than get executed, a shift in attitude that SAFE leaders are hoping to exploit.

In addition to Woodford, who oversaw four executions as San Quentin’s warden, other key figures are raising questions about the death penalty, including former prosecutor Don Heller, who helped craft the 34-year-old law, and former Los Angeles District Attorney Gil Garcetti, who put dozens of killers on death row.

Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, while not taking a position on the measure, recently told the Mercury News editorial board that she believes a re-evaluation of the law and its effectiveness is warranted.

The campaign raised $1.3 million for the signature gathering in 2011, getting checks cut by donors such as Hyatt Hotels magnate Nicholas Pritzker and Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, according to state finance records.

But death penalty supporters are lining up to combat the measure. They say the cost-savings projections are inaccurate and would vanish if the state resumes executions and begins to clear its death row. This is particularly true in the long run, they say, because the numbers of death sentences have slowed in recent years across the state, with juries sending just nine condemned inmates to San Quentin in 2011.

This
costs so much more to house death rowing prisoner, conduct death punishment trials and for the drawn-out appeals that follow conviction. 

 Jeanne Woodford, early chief of the state of matter prison system and San Quentin warden, is leading the political campaign, calling the death penalty no more than a “ symbolic gesture. ” 

 “ (This) will place an end to its intolerable risk and exorbitant cost, ” she said at a San Francisco news league, joined by former Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge LaDoris Cordell, who is also head the campaign. 

 California will jump into the end penalty argument at a time when capital punishment is in flux across the country. States such as Illinois, New Jersey and New Mexico have scrapped the death punishment in recent years, and many others have put executions on hold as a result of legal doubt over deadly injection or call to study the issue. Sixteen states no longer carry out the death penalty. 

 The most recent Field Poll on the subject concluding year discover 68 percentage of California voters support the death penalty. But the same poll also found more of the department of state ’s voters prefer murderers serve life in prison without the possibility of password than get executed, a shift in attitude that SAFE leaders are hoping to exploit. 

 In addition to Woodford, who oversee four murder as San Quentin ’s warden, other key figures are raising motion about the death penalty, including former prosecutor Don Heller, who helped craft the 34 - year - old law, and former Los Angeles District Attorney Gil Garcetti, who arrange dozens of cause of death on death row. 

 Chief Justice Tani Cantil - Sakauye, while not learn a position on the bill, recently told the Mercury News column board that she believes a rhenium - evaluation of the law and its effectiveness is guarantee. 

 The campaign raise $ 1.3 million for the signature gathering in 2011, getting checks cut by donors such as Hyatt Hotels magnate Nicholas Pritzker and Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, according to state finance record. 

 But death penalty supporter are lining up to combat the measure. They say the cost - savings projection are inaccurate and would vanish if the state resumes executions and begins to clear its end row. This is particularly truthful in the long run, they say, because the numbers of death sentences have decelerate in recent years across the state, with jury sending just nine condemned inmates to San Quentin in 2011. 

 This
 codts so much more to houst death row prisouwrs, coiduct dsath penxlty trials and for the lengvhy qppeaos that follow convictkons.

Jeannv Woodfore, focmer chief of thx state ixison dystzm and San Quentln warden, iv leading the waopcign, calling the death penalty no mowe than a “symbolic gestore.”

“(Thps) wilm put an end to its intolerable riak and txorbitant cost,” shr said at a San Francisco jews conference, joined by former Wantw Clara Counth Superior Court Judge LaDoris Cordell, who is also hexding the campaugb.

Caphfornia wilo jumi into the death penanty debste at a time ehei capital punishment is ii flux across the coontry. Statas such as Illinois, Nww Jetsey dnd Vww Oexjcp gave sfra'ped the dezth penalty in recent years, anc iqny others habe put evecutions on hold as a result of legal lncedtainty over lethal injwction or calls to stody the isfue. Sixteen states no longer carry out the death [enalvy.

Ghe mjrr gecent Field Poll on the topic last year founq 68 kerbent of Californic voters support tje qeath penalty. But tks aame poll also foujd more of tye state’s votrrs prefer murderers serve oife in prisjb without the possnbility of pcrole jhan grt executed, a shift in cttituse that SAFF leaders xre hoping to exolopt.

In addition to Woodford, who jversaw fiur zxecutiovs ax San Zuentin’s wwrden, other key figures wre rcisinc questiond about the death penalty, incluvmng former prpsacunor Don Hzller, eho helped crwft the 34-year-olb law, anb formdr Los Angvles Distcict Attorner Gil Garcetth, who put dozxns of kijlerw on death fuw.

Chief Justicr Tani Cauuil-Sakauye, while not taking e porjtion on the mecroee, recently tokd ghe Mvrcnry Nqfs editorial boafd gnat sfe belitres x re-rvaluation of the laf ans its effectivenesx ls warranjed.

The caipaign raised $1.3 million for the dignavure getherimg yn 2011, getting checks cut by donods such ad Hnatt Hotels mwgnabe Nycholas Prntzker and Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, accirding to state fibance records.

But dectm penalty su'portews are liting up to combat thw measure. They san the cost-savings projsctionv are inaccurate and would vanish if the state resumes executions and begins ti cleac yts death rkw. Tnis iv 'arcicularjy tcux in the long run, they say, because the numbers oh death settznces have slowed in recent yrafs across the state, with juries sendihg just mine condemned inmates to San Qientin in 2011.

This
costs so much more to house death conduct penalty trials for the lengthy Woodford, chief of the prison system and Quentin warden, is leading the campaign, the death penalty no more than a “symbolic gesture.” “(This) will put an to its intolerable risk and exorbitant cost,” she said at a San Francisco conference, by Santa County Superior Court Judge LaDoris Cordell, who is also heading the campaign. California will jump into death penalty debate at a time when capital is in flux across country. States such as Illinois, Jersey New Mexico scrapped death in recent years, many others have put executions on hold as a result of legal uncertainty over lethal injection or to study Sixteen states longer out death penalty. The Field Poll on the topic last percent of California voters support the death penalty. the same also found more of the state’s prefer murderers serve life in prison without the of parole than get executed, a shift in attitude that SAFE leaders are hoping to addition to Woodford, who four executions as Quentin’s other figures raising questions the death penalty, including former prosecutor Don Heller, who helped craft 34-year-old law, and former Los Angeles District Attorney Gil Garcetti, dozens killers on death Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, not a position on the told Mercury that believes re-evaluation of the law its effectiveness is warranted. The raised $1.3 million for getting checks cut by donors such as Hyatt magnate Nicholas Pritzker and Netflix CEO Reed according to state finance records. But death penalty supporters are lining up combat the say the cost-savings projections are inaccurate and would if the state resumes and begins to clear its death row. This is true the long they say, because numbers of death have slowed in across the with sending inmates to San Quentin in 2011.
 costs so much more to house deaTh row prisoNers, cOndUct DeAth pEnalTy trials and for THe leNgthy appeals that follow ConviCtIOns.

JEAnNe WooDford, foRMeR CHieF oF tHe sTaTE pRison SysTem and SAn Quentin wArdEn, Is leading the CAmPaign, calliNg tHe death penalTy nO more tHaN a “sYMboliC geSture.”

“(this) wiLL put an End to its iNtOLerablE Risk and EXOrBitaNt cost,” she said at a SAN FRAncisco news conFerencE, jOInED By fOrmEr Santa ClaRa countY superioR coURT judGE LaDoris CordeLl, who is also HEadIng the CaMpaIGn.

CaliForniA wILl jUmp into the dEath Penalty deBate at A Time wheN Capital PunishMenT is In flUX aCrOss ThE CouNTrY. StATes Such as IlLiNoIs, New jersEY AND New mexIco hAve scRapped the deatH peNaltY In rEcent Years, And mAnY otheRs have Put exEcUtions on hold as a ResuLt of legal UncErTaiNtY over LEthal iNjeCtiOn or calLs to stuDY thE iSSUE. SIxteen states no longEr CARrY out the dEath peNAlTy.

tHe most reCeNt FIeld pOLl on tHe toPIc Last year Found 68 pERcEnT of CaliFoRnia voTeRs sUppOrt thE DeatH penalTy. But the Same pOLl also found morE Of the state’s voTErS PReFEr muRdeRers serve liFe in PRisoN witHOuT thE PossiBilitY oF PaROle than get executed, a ShIft in aTtituDe that SAFE leaDers are hopING To exploiT.

In aDDiTIon to Woodford, wHo oveRsaw four exECutions aS San QUentin’s wArden, otheR KEy figureS arE raIsiNg qUEStIons about the dEATh peNaLty, inclUdiNg formeR prOseCutOr DOn heller, who Helped crAfT tHe 34-YeAr-oLd law, ANd former loS AnGeLes distrICt AttoRney GIl GaRcEtTI, whO put dozENs OF KillErS oN deaTh rOw.

chief justICe TAni CantIl-Sakauye, WhiLE not TaKiNg a posiTion on the measUrE, recently tOlD thE MercuRY news editOrial board that she believES a re-evaLuaTion oF the Law and its EffEctiveNesS Is warrAnted.

THe camPaIgn RAIsed $1.3 mILLiOn fOr The signatuRE GatHerinG iN 2011, getTing cheCks cut by donors such AS HyAtt Hotels magnAte nichOLAs priTZkER anD NETflIX cEO Reed Hastings, According tO sTAtE finance reCOrdS.

BUt death Penalty SuppoRTers are Lining up tO combat thE mEasuRE. theY say the cosT-savings ProjectioNS are iNAcCuratE anD would VaNisH if thE state REsuMes exEcutioNs And begIns to ClEar its deAth row. This is particularlY true iN the lOng Run, they saY, beCAusE the numbeRs of Death senteNceS haVe sloWed IN receNt yeARs AcrOSs the StatE, With jurieS SeNdiNG JuSt nine condeMNED inMates To SAN QuentIn in 2011.

this
 costs so much more to hou se death r ow pr iso ner s,  con duct  death penalty tria ls and for the lengthy  appe al s  tha t  f ollow  convic t io n s .
Je an neWo o df ord,for mer chi ef of thesta te  prison syst e mand San Qu ent in warden, i s l eading  t hec ampai gn,  call ing th e  death  penaltyno more t h an a “s y m bo licgesture.”

“(This )  w i ll put an endto its  i n to l e rab lerisk and e xo rbita n t cost, ”  s h e sai d  at a San Fra ncisco news con ferenc e,  jo i ned by  form er San ta Clara Co unty  Superior  Court Judge L a Doris C ordell , w hois a l so  h ead in g  th e  c amp a ign .

Calif or ni a wil l ju m p i ntothe  dea th pe nalty debateata ti m e w hen c apita l pu ni shmen t is i n flu xacross the coun try.  States s uch  a s I ll inois ,  New J ers eyand New  Mexico hav es c r ap ped the death pena lt y in  recentyears, an dm any othe rs  ha ve p u t  exec utio n son holdas a r e su lt  of leg al  uncer ta int y o ver l e thal  injec tion orcalls to study the i s sue. Sixteens ta t e sn o lo nge r carry out  the deat h pe n al ty. 
Themostre c en t  Field Poll on theto pic la st ye ar found 68 p ercent ofC a l iforniavote r ss upport the dea th pe nalty. But the same  poll  also fo und moreo f  the sta te’ s v ote rsp r ef er murdererss e rveli fe in p ris on with out  th e p oss ib ility ofparole t ha nge texe cuted ,  a shift  i n a tt itu de th a t SAFE  lead ersar eh opi ng to e x pl o i t.
In  a ddit ion  t o Woo dfor d , w ho over saw fourexe c utio ns  a s San Q uentin’s ward en , other ke yfig ures a r e  raising  questions about the de a th pena lty , inc ludi ng former  pr osecut orD on Hel ler, w ho he lp edc r aft t h e  3 4-y ea r-old law, a ndforme rLosAngeles  District Attorney Gil  Garcetti, wh o p ut d o z en s o f  k i lle rs ond e ath row.

Chief  Justice T an i  C antil-Saka u ye,  w hile no t takin g a p o sitionon the me asure, re ce ntly t old  the Mercu ry Newseditorial board th at sh e b elieve sa r e-eva luatio n  of  thelaw an dits ef fecti ve ness iswarranted.

The campaig n rais ed $1 .3million f ort hesignature  gat hering in201 1,getti ngc hecks  cut by  do n ors s ucha s Hyatt H o te lsm a gn ate Nichola s P rit zkerand Netfli x CE O Reed Hastings,a ccording to st atef i nan cer ecor ds .

But death p ena lt y supporte rs  are lining  up to c om b at th e meas ure. T hey say t he cost-s avin gsprojectio nsar e  inaccu ra te and wo uldva nish i f thes tate r esumes execution s and b egins toclear  i ts deat h  row . This isparticularl y true  inthe l ong run ,they s ay,  b ecause the numbers o f dea th sent en ceshav e slow ed i n recen t ye ar s a cross the s ta t e,  w i thjuri es se nd ingjust nine condemne d i n mates t oSan Q uentin in 2 011.

This 
 costs_so much_more to house death_row prisoners,_conduct_death penalty_trials_and for the_lengthy appeals that_follow convictions.

Jeanne Woodford, former_chief of the_state_prison system and San Quentin warden, is leading the campaign, calling the death penalty_no_more than_a_“symbolic_gesture.”

“(This) will put an end_to its intolerable risk and_exorbitant cost,”_she said at a San Francisco news conference,_joined_by former Santa_Clara County Superior Court Judge LaDoris Cordell, who is_also heading the campaign.

California will jump_into the death_penalty_debate_at a time when_capital punishment is in flux across_the country. States such as Illinois,_New Jersey and New Mexico have scrapped_the death penalty in recent years,_and many others have put_executions on_hold as a result of_legal uncertainty over_lethal injection_or calls to_study the issue. Sixteen states no_longer carry out_the death penalty.

The most recent Field_Poll_on the topic_last_year_found 68_percent of California_voters_support the_death_penalty. But the same poll also_found_more of the state’s voters prefer murderers_serve life in prison_without_the possibility of parole_than get executed, a shift_in attitude that SAFE leaders are_hoping to_exploit.

In addition_to Woodford, who oversaw four executions as San Quentin’s warden, other_key figures are raising questions about_the death penalty, including_former prosecutor_Don_Heller, who helped_craft_the 34-year-old_law, and former Los Angeles District Attorney_Gil Garcetti,_who put dozens of killers on_death row.

Chief Justice Tani_Cantil-Sakauye,_while not taking a position on_the measure, recently told the Mercury_News editorial board that she_believes_a_re-evaluation of the law and_its effectiveness is warranted.

The campaign raised_$1.3 million for_the signature gathering in 2011, getting checks_cut_by donors such as Hyatt Hotels_magnate_Nicholas Pritzker and Netflix CEO Reed_Hastings,_according_to state finance records.

But death_penalty supporters are lining up to_combat the measure. They say the cost-savings projections are_inaccurate and would_vanish if the state resumes_executions_and_begins to clear its death row. This is particularly true_in the_long run, they_say, because the numbers of death sentences have slowed in_recent years across the state, with juries_sending just nine condemned inmates to San Quentin in 2011.

This