Death Penalty for Juveniles-
10 Youngest Murderers Of All Time (Links to an external site.)
You may be surprised to know that the execution of minor children has not been uncommon in our nation’s history; at least 366 juvenile offenders have been executed since 1642. However, on March 1, 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court, in the case of Roper v. Simmons, put an end to the infliction of the death penalty on juveniles in the United States. At issue was the minimum age at which juveniles who were under the age of 18 when they committed their crimes could be eligible for the death penalty. At the time 16-17 year-olds were eligible for the death penalty; 21 states permitted the death penalty for juveniles. A total of 72 juvenile offenders were put on death row at the time. After watching the above video, answer the following questions: Do you support the death penalty for children for crimes of violence? Should juveniles be given mandatory incarceration sentences for serious crimes, as adults? If you could change the law, would you agree with sentencing juveniles to death for their crimes, and which crime would believe qualify for the death sentence
Solution
Death Penalty for Juveniles
Implementing my idea, I would like to mention that, I do not support the death penalty among children whoever is committing crimes on a violent note. As the video has shown that there are several juveniles who are doing criminal attempts that can be compared with the adults. Therefore, criminal attempts take place, by the juveniles on the note that they are doing the crime without any deep understanding about the later consequences. Therefore, as they are responsible for such heinous work, punishment should be given to them, based on their attempted crimes. Thus, the society should be run under a system, which is to learn about the main objectives in order to eliminate crimes, so that the society can be protected.
As per my observation, I would like to mention that most of the juveniles shall be given a mandatory incarcerated sentence based on the crimes which they have attempted because there are different sentence cases, that depends on the crime circumstances along with the age offenders. Currently, a system of justice has been stimulated so that they can prevent children from committing any crime. Therefore, these programs are inaugurated in order to learn about the types of hardships, harassment, and abuse the juveniles had to face before they committed the crime. Reports state that when the behavior of the children becomes uncontrollable, this causes them to commit the crime, under the age of 18. Therefore, giving them harsh death penalties, in my opinion, shall never be done, proper counseling is required so that they can realize their faults, and come back to their real identity (Youtube.com 2015). Juveniles below the age of 17 shall not get the death penalty, however, they shall get a moral punishment, or a life sentence in prison, for their criminal attempt. Thus, many have recognized the fact that, giving a harsh punishment like the death penalty to juveniles in order to reach justice.
Firstly, I would like to mention that I do not have the intention to make changes to the laws. Hence, I would rather prefer to make an analysis that the death sentence among the juveniles shall not be given because after all they are children, and capital punishment is not valid for them. Therefore, I would like to mention the case of Roper v. Simmons, which turned the rule of the Supreme Court, as this case discloses it to be unconstitutional to impose death penalties for the crime which is committed by children under the of 18. Therefore, after this court, the case mainly focused on the fact stating that children are considered to be less culpable rather than adults. I think the decision took place ten years ago, on March 1, 2005, by the United States Supreme Court, which finally discussed abolishing the juvenile death penalty (Roper v/s. Simmons 2005). Thus, this court helped to evaluate the barbaric part of criminal justice which is aligned with the sentencing, with those of every nation worldwide. Thus, I would follow the cause and the reason which is followed in the case of Roper v/s Simmons, in order to sentence the juveniles. Thus, criminal done by juveniles is mainly murder or slaying individuals, therefore, on the utmost note, programs or counseling should be done, so that they can learn and feel the guilt of their wrongdoings. Thus, people above the age of 18, shall receive the death penalty in my opinion, but those below the age, with heinous crimes should get life imprisonment or as decided by the court, on the basis of the crime attempted by the juvenile criminals.
References
Youtube.com (2015). 10 youngest murderers of all time. The Wacky. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFcbYbIx5e4 [Retrieved on 28h January, 2022]
Roper v/s. Simmons. (2005). Oyez. Retrieved from https://www.oyez.org/cases/2004/03-633 [Retrieved on 28h January, 2022]
