Oregon governor commutes all 17 of state's death sentences

Oregon Democratic Governor Kate Brown will commute the sentences of all the state's 17 death row prisoners to life in prison without chance of parole.

With less than a month left in office, she said she was using her executive power because she believed capital punishment was wrong.

Oregon is one of 27 states that allows the death penalty, but it has not executed a prisoner since 1997.

Republicans in the western US state condemned Ms Brown's order.

It will take effect on Wednesday.

In a statement, she said she...