Elisa L.

Melero

English IV

Mrs. Ramirez

28 November 2023

The death penalty should not be imposed on juveniles

Placing juveniles in the adult criminal justice system, however, puts them at risk for

abuse and fails to reduce crime. Anyone under eight-teen do not have a fully developed brain

like adults do. The law prohibits people under eight-teen from voting, serving the military, and

on juries, but in some states they can be executed for crimes they committed before they reach

adulthood. It's an incorrect system, how can we be trialed as adults but not do adult things.

Harvard medical school institute of medical health and UCLAs department of neuroscience

researched that the frontal and prefrontal lobes of the brain, that regulate impulse control and

judgment, are not fully developed in adolescents. UCLA and Harvard have verified ages under

eight-teen aren't in as much control as adults. Due to teens immaturity adolescence children are

also more likely to be corrected by adults and authority figures, and are therefore more likely to

be the victims of coerced confessions, which are often false. By pressure we agree with whatever

authority says. We don't think like adults do. We fear pressure and are scared. Of course under

pressure we will agree with what we are being told, even if it isn't all true.

Some countries still impose the death penalty while others don't. The states of

Washington, New York, Kansas, Montana, and Indiana have established laws prohibiting the

death sentence of juvenile offenders. The United States and Iran are the only nations that

formally allow the juvenile death penalty. Sixty-nine percent of United States adults oppose the

death penalty for juveniles. Sixty-nine percent isn't enough for the US to stop juvenile execution.
The goal of the death penalty retribution and deterrence do not apply to youths. Of all offenders,

adolescents are the most capable of rehabilitation given their youth, immaturity, and potential for

growth. Prohibiting the punishment of death for sixteen and seventeen year olds does it suggest

that they did not know right from wrong. Giving teens another chance wouldn't be harmful to

society. An August 2015 report of the United Nations secretary-general on human rights in Iran

expressed ongoing concerns “at the frequency of executions, especially for drug related

offenders”. 160 juveniles were reported on death row in the country as of 2014. These weren't

murders or convicts. These were kids not knowing right from wrong being influenced to do

things. These juveniles never did anything so serious to where their lives needed to end.

Back then juveniles were executed for unreasonable crimes. In 1927 a ten year old was

sentenced to death for the charge of rape. Considering a ten year old doesn't even know what that

is. In 1885 a ten year old was also sentenced to death with the charge of robbery of a bank. The

court ruling affected 72 juvenile offenders on death row who were eight-teen is prohibited under

international human rights law, yet some countries still execute children offenders. International

has documented 149 executions of child offenders in ten countries. Even after hearing about

these unreasonable reasons, some countries still think it's okay to execute young kids. In 2009,

Iran executed at least five juvenile offenders and Sudan one. From 2005 through 2008 five

countries- iran, saudi, arabia, sudan, pakistan,and yemen- were known to have executed juvenile

offenders. Considering how many juveniles and young kids who were excited, you'd think

people would consider retribution. These kids are too young to comprehend what they're even

doing wrong. Young kids deserve a second chance.

The voices of those affected by the juvenile death penalty are often unheard and

overlooked. This practice, which allows the execution of individuals who were under 18 at the
time of their crime, raises important ethical and moral questions. These juveniles aren't able to

speak on their behalf. They Are sentenced and executed. Many argue that juveniles possess a

unique capacity for change and rehabilitation, and that the death penalty denies them the

opportunity for redemption. There are concerns about the potential for wrongful convictions and

the impact on families and communities. It is crucial to have open and thoughtful discussions

about the juvenile death penalty to ensure that all voices are heard and that justice is served in a

fair and compassionate manner. Nobody thinks about the families of these juveniles, nobody

thinks about how it will affect other people's lives. I believe it's important to listen to the unheard

voices of those affected by the juvenile death sentence. Everyone deserves a chance for their

voices to be heard, especially when it comes to matters of life and death. It's crucial to consider

the unique circumstances and potential for rehabilitation that juveniles possess. By

acknowledging and amplifying these voices, we can work towards a more just and

compassionate criminal justice system.

Juveniles now have rehabilitation and prevent further delinquent behavior through the

development of education, Vocational, social, emotional and basic life skills. On january 27,

2010 the US supreme court decided to review whether exciting sixteen and seventeen year olds

violates the constitution ban on cruel and unusual punishment. The review comes after the

Missouri Supreme court overturned the death sentence of seventeen year old Christopher

simmons. Roper v. Simmons will be reviewed by the justice for whom have called the death

penalty “inconstant” decency in a civilized society. Luckily someone is taking matters into their

own hands. Development is not completed until somewhere between eight-teen and twenty two

years of age. These findings confirm that adolescents generally have a greater tendency towards

impulsivity, making unsound judgment or reasoning, and are less aware of the consequences of
their actions. Teens' lives ended due to unsound judgment and wronging. The juvenile death

penalty is prohibited under international law, and the right of the child, to which all three of these

countries are parties, prohibits capital punishment for individuals who were under eighteen at the

time of the crime. Someone with common sense finally changed it.

It is crucial to ensure that juveniles receive justice when it comes to the death penalty. We

must listen to their voices, consider their unique circumstances, and recognize their potential for

rehabilitation. By advocating for fair and compassionate treatment, we can work towards a

system that upholds the principles of justice for all. It's essential to give juveniles the opportunity

for justice and fair treatment when it comes to the death penalty. By considering their individual

circumstances and potential for rehabilitation, we can ensure that our justice system is both

compassionate and effective. It's important to continue advocating for policies that prioritize the

well-being and future of young individuals involved in the criminal justice system. We need to

listen to their voices, understand their unique situations, and give them a chance for

rehabilitation. By pushing for fairness and compassion in our criminal justice system, we can

create a better future for everyone involved. Let's continue to raise awareness and advocate for

change together!

Work cited

https://www.aclu.org/documents/juveniles-and-death-penalty
uments/juveniles-and-death-penalty
:https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/factsheet-juvenile-death-penalty
https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/policy-issues/juveniles/execution-of-juveniles-outside
-of-the-u-s
https://www.findlaw.com/criminal/juvenile-justice/juveniles-and-the-death-penalty.h
tml
https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/act50/0233/2019/en/
https://www.hrw.org/news/2010/10/08/iran-saudi-arabia-sudan-end-juvenile-death-pe
nalty
https://www.aclu.org/documents/juveniles-and-death-penalty