Newsom Pardons 37, Commutes Sentences for 14 Murderers and 4 Others

Recipients of commuted sentences include Tyson Atlas, who killed a rival gang member in 2006, and Michael Ogg, who killed a man in Santa Barbara in 1993.

An officer moves a prisoner at the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced pardons and sentence commutations for dozens of individuals late in the day March 29, on a Friday before Easter weekend.

Mr. Newsom approved 37 pardons and 18 commutations—14 of the latter inmates were previously convicted of murder and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. The other four were given life sentences in prior decades for attempted murder.